Fang Xuan did not stop his pace, nor did he even look back, merely catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.
As expected, it was Shen Qingqing.
She had changed into a new dress today, clearly intended to make her small face look even more pitiful. She stood beneath the corridor outside the Sword-Honing Hall, her eyes looking at him with a mix of feigned anger and resentment.
Beside her stood a... well, a rather conspicuous figure.
That person was tall, or more accurately, his horizontal development was quite spectacular.
His round waist nearly burst the black disciple robes worn by a direct disciple.
His small eyes were squeezed into a fat face, currently struggling to maintain a dignified expression, though his gaze toward Fang Xuan was filled with obvious hostility.
This was the fourth senior brother of Sword Peak, Fei Wu.
He was a typical case of someone who had used family resources to pile his way into the Middle-tage Foundation Establishment realm, barely managing to secure a spot as a direct disciple.
Shen Qingqing looked at Fang Xuan's cold back, her heart filled with even more frustration.
How could a high-quality potential like Fang Xuan—young, handsome, and terrifyingly talented—not be under her control?
Every other capable senior brother on Sword Peak was attentive and obedient to her every whim.
Why was this newcomer, Fang Xuan, so dismissive of her? He even dared to speak rudely to her!
She had to make him like the others, a pawn played between her palms to be used against Ning Xian and to solidify her own status.
Seeing that Fang Xuan ignored her, Shen Qingqing bit her lower lip.
She took a few quick steps, circling in front of Fang Xuan to block his path.
"Junior Brother... why are you so cold to your senior sister? Are you still angry about yesterday? I was merely anxious and spoke out of turn. Please do not take it to heart..."
She tilted her small face upward, her eyes misting over as if she were on the verge of tears—a sight that would stir pity in anyone's heart.
Unfortunately, Fang Xuan was not just anyone.
He stopped his pace, his gaze finally landing on Shen Qingqing’s face with a flat expression.
"Senior Sister Ning told me not to play with idiots."
He spoke in a voice that wasn't loud, yet was perfectly clear.
The pitiful expression on Shen Qingqing’s face froze instantly, as if she hadn't heard him correctly. "...You... what did you say?"
Fang Xuan repeated himself patiently. "I said, Senior Sister Ning instructed me not to play with idiots. Please move."
"You... you!" Shen Qingqing trembled with rage, pointing at Fang Xuan, her face flushing between red and white.
"What about me?" Fang Xuan asked, his tone still indifferent.
"Fang Xuan! Do not go too far! I am still your senior sister!"
At that moment, Fei Wu, who had been watching from the sidelines, shifted his obese body and stomped over. The ground seemed to vibrate slightly with each step.
He stood beside Shen Qingqing like a wall of meat, his small eyes glaring at Fang Xuan as he barked in a coarse voice:
"Junior Brother Fang, you had better show some respect when speaking to Junior Sister Shen!"
Only then did Fang Xuan deign to spare a glance at Fei Wu.
He had naturally noticed that this fat man and Shen Qingqing were acting in concert; it was obvious Shen Qingqing had brought him along to provide muscle and pick a fight.
However, in his eyes, a Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment disciple who relied on pills was little different from the trembling inner disciples standing around them.
They were all trash.
It was just as well. Today, he would swat away these annoying flies.
He would eventually take back the spirit bone that Shen Qingqing had stolen from Ning Xian.
However, on Ning Xian's side, with her own bloodline and his Nine-Revolution Soul-Restoring Pill, a new spirit bone would grow back in time.
As for this stolen old bone, it would naturally belong to him.
One should not underestimate this spirit bone; it was not just a symbol of talent, but was also faintly connected to a portion of Ning Xian's luck.
If it could be fully awakened, its benefit to cultivation would be heaven-defying, enough to push anyone's talent to the absolute peak.
To leave such a treasure in the hands of someone like Shen Qingqing was a complete waste.
Seeing that Fang Xuan only looked at him silently without responding, Fei Wu felt he was losing face in front of Shen Qingqing, which fueled his anger.
Relying on his size and his status as a 'senior brother,' he reached out with a hand as large as a cattail leaf fan, aiming to grab Fang Xuan's shoulder.
He wanted to give this arrogant new junior brother a taste of his authority first.
"Since you just joined and do not know the rules, allow your senior brother to teach you..."
His hand was about to touch Fang Xuan's shoulder.
But when it was only three inches away, that fat hand bizarrely froze in mid-air.
The cruel grin on Fei Wu's face solidified.
He felt as if his hand had struck an invisible wall. No matter how he circulated his spirit power, he could not advance a single inch!
What alarmed him even more was a cold, sharp aura faintly emanating from this seemingly lean junior brother.
It locked onto him, causing a layer of cold sweat to break out on his back instantly.
This person... is definitely not simple!
Alarm bells rang in Fei Wu's heart.
But when he turned and saw the expectant look in Shen Qingqing's eyes, his vanity immediately overrode his fear.
He could not lose face in front of Junior Sister Shen.
He forced himself to stay calm, the muscles on his fat face twitching as he tried to squeeze out an even more ferocious expression.
At the same time, he secretly increased the strength in his hand, letting his Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment spirit power explode without reservation.
Yet, that hand remained motionless in the air, maintaining that three-inch distance from Fang Xuan’s shoulder as if it were an unbridgeable chasm.
Fang Xuan merely swept a calm gaze over him.
Flimsy spirit power, unstable footing, shifting eyes... full of openings. To think someone like this could be a direct disciple; Sword Peak must truly be running out of people.
Caught by that gaze, Fei Wu subconsciously swallowed, his heart fluttering with an inexplicable panic.
He only then realized that although Fang Xuan was young, he was tall and upright, actually standing slightly taller than his own portly self.
And as Fang Xuan looked down at him with slightly lowered eyes, he felt a crushing sense of being looked down upon.
Many disciples in the vicinity had already noticed the confrontation. They stopped their tasks, watching from a distance and whispering among themselves.
"It's Senior Brother Fei and Senior Brother Fang!"
"It looks like they're fighting. It must be over the beautiful Junior Sister Shen!"
"Senior Brother Fang is quite bold. Senior Brother Fei is at the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment realm..."
"Didn't you see Senior Brother Fei's hand is stuck? Senior Brother Fang hasn't even moved!"
"Could Senior Brother Fang be stronger than Senior Brother Fei? He only joined two days ago!"
As these discussions drifted over, Fei Wu became even more shocked and enraged, his face burning with shame.
Damn it! He, Fei Wu, had dominated Sword Peak for so many years. When had he ever been so humiliated by a new junior brother?!
And right in front of the Junior Sister Shen he adored!
"You... what demonic art did you use!"
Fei Wu roared with blustering courage, abruptly pulling his hand back and taking a step back, his fat face flushed with shame and anger.
Fang Xuan acted as if he had only just noticed him, slowly smoothing out his sleeves that had been slightly ruffled by the wind.
"Why does Senior Brother Fei say that? I was merely standing here."
"You!" Fei Wu's fat trembled with rage as he pointed at Fang Xuan.
"Fang Xuan! Do not be so arrogant! If you have the guts, face me on the martial stage! Let us have a proper match so I can teach you what it means to respect your seniors!"
He felt he had proposed a 'fair' challenge that the other could not refuse.
He was at the Middle-Stage of Foundation Establishment and possessed rich experience.
The other had just joined. Even if he was a bit strange, his practical combat skills would surely be lacking!
As long as they were on the martial stage, he could use his strength and experience to beat this arrogant brat until he crawled on the ground, thus reclaiming his reputation!
Fang Xuan looked at him as if looking at a fool, then suddenly gave a soft laugh.
"On what grounds?"
"Huh?" Fei Wu was stunned.
Fang Xuan repeated, his tone still indifferent. "I said, on what grounds? Just because you are Fei Wu?"
Fei Wu froze again, feeling something was wrong, as if he had been insulted.
But on second thought, the other person seemed to just be calling him by his name. Was he being paranoid?
Among the watching disciples, a few clever ones couldn't help but snicker, quickly covering their mouths.
Shen Qingqing understood the implication as well. Her expression darkened, and she secretly pinched Fei Wu.
Only then did Fei Wu belatedly realize the insult. His fat face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and the finger he pointed at Fang Xuan trembled:
"You... you dare insult me?!"
Fang Xuan couldn't be bothered to waste more time with this moron.
With this time, he might as well return to his small valley and think of ways to stay by Ning Xian's side. Perhaps he could find an opportunity to have Ning Xian teach him a few more sword moves 'hand-to-hand.'
That physical contact, and the faint cold fragrance when she was close... were far more interesting than bickering with this fat pig.
He stopped looking at the trembling Fei Wu and the pale-faced Shen Qingqing, stepping directly between the two of them and walking toward the path down the mountain.
It wasn't until he was far away that Fei Wu finally caught his breath, roaring at Fang Xuan's back:
"Fang Xuan! You just wait! This isn't over!"
Shen Qingqing watched Fang Xuan's departing back—so utterly unconcerned—and then looked at the fat man beside her who was only capable of useless rage. A flash of deep loathing crossed her eyes.
.......
Having already walked far away, Fang Xuan looked up at the sky. The sunlight was just right.
He might as well go back to the courtyard and ask his senior sister to teach him sword techniques hand-to-hand.
That was the truly important matter.
Rate on N.U.
