Chapter 18: Chapter 018: The Invisible Slap in the Face
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âXiao Xiao, you really are smart,â Feng Wuchen immediately praised as they walked out of the great hall.
Ling Xiaoxiao was extremely happy with Feng Wuchenâs praise and smiled, âOnly this way can we avoid delaying Brother Fengâs time while also appeasing them. Itâs the best of both worlds.â
âBig Brother Feng, what happened?â Lin You, who had been waiting outside the great hall, immediately ran up to ask upon seeing Feng Wuchen and Ling Xiaoxiao come out.
âElder Suâs cold poison has almost been cleared; he can eliminate the rest by himself,â Feng Wuchen said with a faint smile.
Lin You shook her head anxiously, âIâm not talking about that. I heard Elder Su wants to recommend you to the dean. Didnât the dean mention this?â
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âThatâs what you meant? I refused!â Feng Wuchen shrugged and laughed.
âWhat? You refused? Brother Feng, did you really refuse?â Lin Youâs eyes widened in disbelief as if she had heard the most incredible thing in the world.
Feng Wuchen nodded, âI donât want to stay here.â
Lin You felt that Feng Wuchen must be out of his mind, refusing not only Elder Su but also the personal offer from the dean.
As Lin You found it hard to believe, Feng Wuchen added, âIâm now a student of the academy, just in name. I come and go as I wish.â
âIn name?â Lin You was taken aback once again, shocked into a daze.
To come and go as one pleases? Could Xing Tianfeng really agree to such conditions for Feng Wuchen? Just to get Feng Wuchen into the academy, he was granted such a high privilege?
Patting Lin You on the shoulder, Feng Wuchen smiled, âStay in the academy and practice diligently. If thereâs anything, come and find me. I have things to do, so Iâll be going now.â
âDonât worry, Big Brother Feng, I wonât disappoint you.â Lin You nodded firmly, knowing she would not have been able to enter the academy without Feng Wuchenâs help.
Although Lin You was known for her Fifth Grade Martial Soul talent, she was still a notch below Yang Tianruo in strength. If they were to duel, Lin You was not confident she could defeat Yang Tian.
Feng Wuchen and Ling Xiaoxiao had just walked about ten meters when they stopped, as someone had blocked their path.
The person blocking the way was none other than Mo Lingâer, Young Master Huangfu, and a group of students.
âQi Refining Realm First Layer, truly fitting of the Mo familyâs foremost genius, congratulations,â Feng Wuchen said indifferently as he looked at Mo Lingâer.
âWho is she?â Mo Lingâer asked coldly as she pointed at Ling Xiaoxiao.
âI am Brother Fengâs fiancĂ©e!â Ling Xiaoxiao replied eagerly, not at all intimidated by Mo Lingâerâs icy demeanor.
âFiancĂ©e?â Mo Lingâer was stunned on the spot, and so was Young Master Huangfu.
âItâs over! We have no chance now! Such a beautiful girl, and itâs not our turn to protect and cherish her anymore! Oh, my heavens! I donât want to live!â
âThe Heavenly Dao is unjust! Iâm so handsome; Iâve been bearing the pressure that someone as handsome as I shouldnât have for so many years. Why doesnât a beautiful girl want to be with me? Is there no justice left? Who have I offended?â
âAlas, what a pity, a fresh flower planted in cow dung.â
A group of male students voiced their disappointment, wailing and lamenting.
Feng Wuchen looked at Ling Xiaoxiao in surprise; he hadnât expected her to claim to be his fiancĂ©e!
âBe sensible. Heâs just a Second Grade Martial Soul waste. Donât be fooled by him!â Mo Lingâer snapped coldly at Ling Xiaoxiao.
âDo not insult Brother Feng! Brother Feng is not a waste,â Ling Xiaoxiao fiercely defended Feng Wuchen. Mo Lingâerâs insult made Ling Xiaoxiao very angry, and her beautiful face instantly turned icy cold.
âYou!â Mo Lingâer was furious, incredulous at Ling Xiaoxiaoâs disregard.
Her icy gaze shifting to Feng Wuchen, Mo Lingâer said coldly, âFeng Wuchen, I know youâre deliberately bringing her to irritate me. But let me make myself clear: no matter how many or how gorgeous the girls you bring, it wonât change my opinion of you!â
âIf you dare insult Brother Feng again, donât blame me for being rude!â Ling Xiaoxiao retorted coldly, her eyes suddenly fierce, ready for a fight at any moment.
Hearing this, Feng Wuchen was secretly alarmed; Ling Xiaoxiao was a Sixth Layer Qi Refining Realm practitioner and could easily defeat Mo Lingâer with a single palm strike. He didnât want Xing Tianfeng and the others to see that.
âUngracious? If you can, then try! It would be my pleasure to wake you up!â Mo Lingâer said indifferently, still prideful and haughty.
âMo Lingâer, donât think too highly of yourself. I brought Xiao Xiao out because I wanted her to have fun. Youâre thinking too much. Your opinion of me is your own business; it has nothing to do with me. Weâve already severed ties, and my affairs no longer concern you, for youâre not the Mo Lingâer I once knew!â Feng Wuchen spoke indifferently, once again disappointed by Mo Lingâerâs arrogance.
âYouâre not the Mo Lingâer I knew!â These words repeated in Mo Lingâerâs mind, Feng Wuchenâs words seemingly implying that she was unworthy of knowing him, making Mo Lingâer feel insulted.
âJust a Second Grade Martial Soul, whatâs there to be arrogant about?â Young Master Huangfu scoffed, disdaining the way others were treating Mo Lingâer.
Feng Wuchen glanced at Young Master Huangfu with indifference and chuckled, âHow unfortunate for the Huangfu family to have raised you like this. I just wonder how long the Huangfu family will last in your hands.â
âWhat did you say? Say it again if you dare! Donât think youâre something special just because you defeated Yang Bufan and Yang Xuan,â Young Master Huangfu fumed, pointing angrily at Feng Wuchen.
âHmph! Ignorant.â Feng Wuchen couldnât be bothered to respond and, holding Ling Xiaoxiaoâs jade hand, began to walk away.
âBrother Feng is holding my hand!â Ling Xiaoxiao was thrilled, her pretty face flushing with delight as she felt overjoyed inside.
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Seeing how affectionate the two were, the male students nearly vomited blood, wishing they could rush forward to engage in a life-and-death duel with Feng Wuchen!
If looks could kill, Feng Wuchen wouldnât know how many times heâd have died.
The young master of the Huangfu familyâs face darkened, his pitch-black eyes blazing with fury.
âFeng Wuchen! Stop right there!â Mo Lingâer barked coldly, the anger in her heart growing more intense by the moment.
âIf you have something to say, speak up. I have no time to waste on you.â Feng Wuchen replied indifferently, having long given up any feelings for Mo Lingâer.
Mo Lingâer shouted coldly, âYou are nothing but trash, pretentious without any real ability. What gives you the right to be arrogant in front of me?â
Feng Wuchen shook his head and sneered, âMo Lingâer, youâre beyond help!â
âYou bastard! How dare you insult Lingâer!â the young master of the Huangfu family roared in anger.
âIdiot!â Feng Wuchen responded with disdain, continuing to hold Ling Xiaoxiaoâs jade hand and walk away.
âThis is preposterous! How dare you look down on me!â The young master of the Huangfu family, filled with rage, grew even more discontented with Feng Wuchenâs arrogance and felt increasingly looked down upon.
âGive me one reason why I should look up to you,â Feng Wuchen said with a cold laugh, not even turning his head.
âYouâre courting death!â The young master of the Huangfu familyâs face twisted fiercely as he summoned all his True Qi and lunged forward in fury.
âHuangfu Qing! Stop!â Just as Huangfu Qing was about to strike, a cold shout suddenly rang out: âFrom today onwards, Feng Wuchen is a nominal student of the academy!â
âNominal student?â Huangfu Qing and many of the new students looked at Instructor Li in surprise, not understanding what it meant.
âHe agreed to join the academy?â Mo Lingâer couldnât believe it.
Seeing the studentsâ confusion, Instructor Li said sternly, âBy ânominal,â it means that Feng Wuchen can come and go from the academy as he pleases. This is the decision of the dean and the three elders!â
âCome and go from the academy as he pleases? On what basis? Feng Wuchen has only a Second Grade Martial Soul talent. Why is he allowed such freedom, and we are not?â Huangfu Qing was the first to object.
âThe dean and the three elders all agreed?â Mo Lingâer was astounded.
Instructor Li stated firmly, âHuangfu Qing, if you could help Elder Su dispel the cold poison, you would also be allowed to come and go as you please. The same goes for all of you. If you canât, then shut up! Either accept training at the academy or leave!â
ââŠâ At Instructor Liâs words, the new students fell silent, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
âThis is preposterous!â gnashed his teeth Huangfu Qing, his fists clenched as he glared fiercely at Feng Wuchen.
âInferior talent does not necessarily indicate lack of strength! No one is allowed to insult Feng Wuchen anymore; everyone must show respect, or face the consequences! Do you understand?â Instructor Li said sternly.
âUnderstood!â the students replied in unison.
Just then, a commotion came from the academyâs gate; a group of people rushed in hastily, carrying an unconscious young man with them.
âInstructor Li! Instructor Li! Quickly get the head elder to save him!â someone spotted Instructor Li and called out frantically, also catching sight of Feng Wuchen.
The students gathered around, curious and puzzled.
âYang Tian?â Lin You was the first to recognize the unconscious youth.
âYang Tianâs leg has been broken!â exclaimed Huangfu Qing, wondering who could have been so ruthless.
Feng Wuchen, passing by, merely glanced at the scene without a hint of concern.
âUncle Yang, who broke Yang Tianâs leg?â asked Mo Lingâer.
The man from the Yang family pointed at the retreating figure of Feng Wuchen and said angrily, âFeng Wuchen!â
âWhat? Feng Wuchen broke it? How is that possible?â Huangfu Qingâs face was filled with disbelief.
Mo Lingâer also found it hard to believe, and many of the studentsâ eyes turned toward Feng Wuchenâs retreating figure.
Instructor Li then said, âIn the duel between Yang Tian and Feng Wuchen, Yang Tian was defeated by a single punch from Feng Wuchen, which broke his leg.â
âDefeated Yang Tian with one punch?â Mo Lingâer and Huangfu Qingâs faces went pale, even more shocked.
Instructor Li continued, âIndeed, at that time, Yang Tian had reached the Qi Refining Realm at the First Layer, while Feng Wuchen was only Eightfold within the Body Refining Realm. So, Feng Wuchen is not the worthless person you speak of. With a four-layer improvement in cultivation within a month, such a defiant talent is unmatched not only in our academy but in the entire Empire. Now do you understand why the dean and the elders value him so much?â
Upon hearing Instructor Liâs words, Mo Lingâer and Huangfu Qing were already petrified on the spot. Such a terrifying talent was unparalleled, and they had dared to flaunt their own abilities in front of Feng Wuchen!
It was utterly laughable!
âIs he really Feng Wuchen?â Mo Lingâer said in a daze, and at that moment, a trace of regret began to creep into her heart.