Chapter 51 A Young Girl's Thoughts, The Calm Before the Storm

[Inside the combat hall, the clamor had yet to subside.]

[You ignored the jeering voices around you.]

[Things like "I wish you happiness," "Assistant Instructor Li is so handsome"...]

[To you, it was all just background noise.]

[Your gaze subtly swept across several corners of the venue.]

[There were several gazes there that were exceptionally cold; although they were well-hidden, they couldn't escape your intuition.]

["The ears and eyes of the Heart-Eroding Cult... It seems the fish have already caught the scent."]

[You sneered inwardly, but your expression remained impassive.]

[You walked over to Liu Xiyue and reached out a hand. "Can you still walk?"]

[Liu Xiyue wiped away her tears and stubbornly slapped your hand away.]

[She tried to stand up on her own, but unexpectedly her legs gave way, and she almost fell again.]

["Stubborn."]

[You sighed, ignoring her protests.]

[You directly supported her by her arm, helping her slowly walk off the stage.]

["Let go of me... I can walk by myself..."]

["Shut up. If you say another word, I'll carry you out on my shoulder and let the whole school watch."]

[Liu Xiyue shut her mouth instantly.]

[However, her originally pale Face was now as red as a ripe apple.]

...

[The infirmary.]

[Still the same familiar setup, still the same familiar atmosphere.]

[The school doctor auntie was binge-watching a show; hearing the noise, she looked up.]

[She was immediately amused. "Oh, it's you, kid? I haven't seen you in a long time. What a rare guest!"]

[She sized up your complexion.]

["I see you're looking radiant; you don't look sick at all?"]

["What, are you here to sponge some oxygen again?"]

["It's not me."]

[You pointed at Liu Xiyue, who was beside you with her head bowed.]

["It's this female student. She accidentally took a fall just now, so I brought her here to rest for a bit."]

["Took a fall?"]

[The auntie looked suspiciously at the dust on Liu Xiyue's clothes.]

["That fall must have taken some skill."]

[Liu Xiyue snapped her head up and glared at you fiercely.]

["Alright, alright, the bed over there is empty. Same old rules."]

[The auntie waved her hand and went back to her show.]

[You helped Liu Xiyue to the innermost hospital bed.]

["I had no choice. I couldn't exactly tell the auntie that I beat you until you cried, right?"]

["That would be such a loss of Face," you teased in a low voice.]

["You!"]

[Liu Xiyue was choked with anger.]

[She took off her shoes and curled up on the bed.]

[She grabbed the white quilt and covered her head directly.]

[She wrapped herself into a white ball.]

[After a long time.]

[A muffled voice came from under the quilt, filled with a thick nasal tone and a sense of grievance.]

["Li Ang... do you think I'm a waste? Completely useless?"]

["Even though my family background is so much better than yours, and I have so many more resources, and an Innate special ability..."]

["Yet I'm so weak and fragile."]

["I couldn't even take a single blow from you..."]

[That's right, she was still feeling dejected.]

[As a favored daughter of heaven, she had been a standout among her peers since childhood.]

[Even in Sea City, she was someone who was always surrounded and pampered.]

[But today, she was crushed by you in every aspect, with no blind spots.]

[This kind of blow was more painful than killing her.]

[You looked at the white ball trembling slightly on the bed and sighed.]

["You're overthinking it."]

[You pulled up a chair and sat down, your tone calm.]

["You aren't weak."]

["In the Qi and Blood Realm, you can be considered a top-tier expert."]

["Then you..."]

["It's just that I'm too strong."]

[You shrugged, saying the most arrogant words in the most nonchalant tone.]

["It's not your fault. You thought you were strong before only because you hadn't met me."]

[There was silence under the quilt for a few seconds.]

[Then it shook violently, as if the person inside was gnashing her teeth.]

["Thank you, Li Ang."]

[After a long time, Liu Xiyue said in a muffled voice.]

["Although your words are infuriating, you've made me see myself clearly."]

["I still have many shortcomings. I'll pay the fee, and I hope you can teach me well."]

[At this moment, a fierce mental struggle was taking place in Liu Xiyue's mind.]

[Little Devil: "This is so embarrassing! I must have my revenge!"]

["Learn all his techniques, wait until December to get the 'dimensional secret treasure'."]

["Advance to the ninth stage, undergo a second Awakening, and then rub his Face in the dirt!"]

[Little Angel: "But... that strike of his was really strong. And he doesn't seem that bad..."]

[Little Devil: "Shut up! Then wait for Origin Opening! I have my family's Origin Opening technique and kaiyuan stones!"]

["As long as I Breakthrough to the Origin Opening Realm before him, I can crush him with my Realm!"]

["Then wouldn't you also become a petty person who uses their Realm to suppress others?"]

["How can that be the same? History is written by the victors!"]

[The quilt shook even more violently.]

[You watched this scene, having no idea what she was thinking.]

["Alright, stop shaking."]

[You stood up. "Get some rest."]

["See you in the training room tonight. Remember to bring the tuition fee."]

[With that, you walked out of the infirmary.]

[Standing in the corridor, you let out a long sigh of relief.]

["The plan is progressing smoothly."]

["To the Heart-Eroding Cult, the previous Longnan City was a powder keg waiting to be detonated."]

["Now, I've added another barrel of high explosives to it."]

["Two peerless Geniuses, plus the upcoming December 13th..."]

["Their counter-strategy should be coming very soon."]

[You touched your chest.]

[Although you are currently only in the Qi and Blood Realm and indeed don't measure up against such a behemoth.]

[But then you thought of the Soaring expert Cold Kite in your shadow, and that unpredictable Shentong Realm big shot, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian.]

[Your back instantly straightened.]

["Who is the hunter and who is the prey is yet to be known."]

...

[Wu Changhe's Office]

[After leaving the infirmary, you walked quickly to Wu Changhe's office.]

[After making such a huge scene today, you had to give Old Wu an explanation and soothe this "startled" mentor of yours.]

[However, when you pushed open the door, you were stunned.]

[The office was reeking of alcohol.]

[Wu Changhe was sitting at his desk, holding a roast chicken in his hand, with a bottle of fine wine that was already half-empty in front of him.]

[Seeing you enter, his Face was flushed, and he even let out an alcoholic burp.]

["You're here? Good lad!"]

[Wu Changhe pointed at you, his eyes narrowing into slits as he laughed.]

["It's one thing to have a high martial Realm, but you're also quite the smooth talker with the ladies! That's the Young Miss of the Liu Family of Haicheng!"]

["Tsk tsk tsk, that's a massive fortune! If you really manage to win her over..."]

["Just a little bit leaking from between her fingers would be enough for you to Cultivate to Origin Opening Perfection!"]

[You looked at Old Wu's undignified behavior.]

[The mental draft you had just prepared instantly got stuck in your throat; you couldn't say a single word.]

["Teacher, actually I..."]

["Alright, alright."]

[Wu Changhe waved his hand, interrupting your explanation.]

[The drunkenness in his eyes dissipated slightly, revealing a hint of clear wisdom.]

["Kid, you don't need to explain anything to me."]

["Back when you comprehended that 'Surging Waves' move, I already knew that your Realm was definitely more than the eighth stage."]

["You have secrets, I know that."]

["But I won't ask, and I won't interfere."]

[Wu Changhe stood up and walked over to you.]

[He helped you straighten your somewhat messy collar.]

["Everyone has their own path."]

["I only know that you are the most outstanding student I, Wu Changhe, have ever taught, and that's enough."]

["As long as you don't take a wicked path, even if you poke a hole in the sky..."]

["These old bones of your teacher can still help support it for a while."]

["Alright, don't waste time here with me."]

[He patted your back and pushed you out of the office.]

["Hurry up and go practice your martial arts! Also, be gentler with that girl."]

["Don't just draw your blade at every turn, or you'll be single for life!"]

["Go on, go on, don't disturb my drinking."]

["Your future... is bright! Hahaha!"]

[Listening to the heroic laughter coming from behind you, you stood in the corridor.]

[After a long silence, you finally bowed deeply toward that door.]

["Teacher, rest assured."]

["This time, I will never let anyone hurt you."]}],