Before the second day had fully passed, all eighteen disciples could now steadily fly from the southern disciples’ quarters to the northern island. Although some were faster than others, achieving such results in just two days proved that this year’s disciples were indeed different from previous years.
The black-veiled woman, who had been hiding in the trees on standby, nodded approvingly. Suddenly, she heard sweet snoring from beneath the tree. She helplessly peeked out from the shadows, only to see Mr. Hu Jiaping, who had been invited to teach the disciples, sprawled out in deep sleep, smiling and drooling as he dreamed.
A young female disciple approached, looking at him with disdain. She poked him with her finger and said, “Sir? Sir! Everyone can fly now! Wake up!”
Despite her poking and calling, Hu Jiaping merely smiled and rolled over, continuing to sleep. The black-veiled woman couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She flicked her finger, sending a small ball of light towards his forehead. He flinched in pain and immediately woke up.
“Hm…?” Hu Jiaping groggily rubbed his forehead and looked around. “Who hit me?”
Seeing that he was finally awake, the female disciple immediately said, “Sir, we’ve all learned sword flight. Please come and see.”
Hu Jiaping looked at the sky, estimating that there was still some time before nightfall. They had learned so quickly? He lazily yawned, stood up, and brushed off the dust. After walking a few steps with the female disciple, he suddenly turned around swiftly and looked up at the treetop behind him.
The black-veiled woman gently pulled up her black veil that had fallen onto the tree trunk, shrinking into the shadows without moving an inch.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly laughed and said leisurely, “Amu? Finally not hiding from me?”
“Huh? Sir, what are you talking about?” The young female disciple frowned and asked.
He just smiled without saying anything. By now, all the disciples had gathered in the clearing, but no one was standing on the ground. Each was flying high on their swords as if protesting this irresponsible teacher with their silent, lofty attitude.
Hu Jiaping let out an “Oh” and, for once, praised them: “Not bad. Now that you’ve learned sword flight, at least you won’t starve to death.”
…Won’t starve to death… The children were truly speechless.
“Since you’ve all learned sword flight, we can start formal training ahead of schedule tomorrow… Let’s see, groups of three should work well.”
He pulled out the training schedule from his pocket and started flipping through it messily. Suddenly, he raised his voice and called out, “Amu! August training will start a day early, with basic training in groups of three! You arrange the personnel!”
Who was he talking to? The children looked at each other in confusion. Who was Amu?
From a giant tree in front of the disciples’ quarters, the cold yet delicate voice of the black-veiled woman suddenly rang out: “I understand.”
The black-veiled woman was called Amu. Everyone was in an uproar. When did she arrive? Or had she been hiding in the tree on standby all along?
Hu Jiaping smiled and folded his arms, saying, “That’s all for today. You little brats can scram now!”
…Such rude speech! The children walked past him with disdain, heading towards the disciples’ quarters. After a few steps, they heard him call out from behind: “You dare to run again! Amu, let’s see where you run this time!” With that, he transformed into a gust of wind and disappeared with a whoosh.
Bai Ligelin snorted with laughter: “This Hu Jiaping must like the black-veiled woman Amu! But too bad Amu doesn’t care about him! Serves him right!”
Li Feiqi asked, “How do you know?”
Bai Ligelin put on a know-it-all expression and said, “Didn’t you hear what he said? The black-veiled woman has been avoiding him. She must not like his unreliable and frivolous manner! Only a blind person would fall for him.”
Li Feiqi was even more puzzled: “Why would only a blind person fall for someone unreliable and frivolous?”
This Hu Jiaping was a direct disciple of some Zhenren from Wuyue Ting. Although he didn’t know what difference that made compared to ordinary disciples, it seemed like he should be more powerful. Oh right, he’s from Wuyue Ting, I wonder if he knows Senior Brother. I should find a chance to ask him…
Li Feiqi’s thoughts began to wander.
Bai Ligelin was still expounding on her vast knowledge: “Of course, she wouldn’t like him. Most girls in the world want a stable home and a devoted and reliable husband who can shelter them from wind and rain. This Hu Jiaping speaks rudely, has a frivolous attitude, and can’t even dress properly. He looks awful! How could any girl like him?”
Li Feiqi looked at her admiringly: “Gelin, you know so much.”
She had never thought about these things before. It wasn’t so much that she couldn’t think of them, but rather that such notions never entered her mind. Things like romance, liking someone, and finding a home seemed like adult matters. They were still children, how could they manage all that?
“You should start looking for and cultivating a good man from a young age,” Bai Ligelin sighed, patting her shoulder. “You’re almost eleven now, you should start considering these things early. Otherwise, when you get older, men will be worse and harder to manage. Li Fei, you should dress up a bit and see if there’s anyone suitable in the academy. Although Ye Ye is the best, he’s already my sister’s man, so you should choose someone else.”
Ye Ye, who had been silent all this time, finally reacted. He tapped her forehead with his finger and said, “Nonsense, talking rubbish, acting beyond your years. Li Fei, don’t listen to her. Be careful not to be led astray.”
“I’ve been observing the boys in the academy lately,” Bai Ligelin escaped from Ye Ye’s grasp and winked at Li Fei. “There’s one surnamed Zhao who seems quite nice. He looks innocent and unworldly, surely he won’t always twist my head like Ye Ye does!”
Who was this Zhao person? Li Fei wracked her brain but couldn’t remember. She hardly knew or had any contact with the other children in the academy.
“Anyway, I’ve decided that I must find someone I like the most,” Bai Ligelin smiled and took Li Fei’s hand. “Li Fei, you should find someone too.”
“Uh? I… I think I’ll pass…” Li Fei hurriedly refused. As she turned her head, she suddenly caught a glimpse of Lei Xiuyuan’s figure flashing through the crowd. She instinctively called out to him: “Xiuyuan!”
He seemed not to hear, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye. Li Fei hesitated, wanting to chase after him, but was pulled back by someone. Bai Ligelin said, “Don’t bother with that two-faced person! Come on, let’s go to the north side and see what there is to eat.”
Without giving her a chance to refuse, she pulled her along as they flew on their swords towards the northern island.
The courtyard of the disciples’ quarters was silent. Most of the children had gone to the eateries on the northern island for dinner. Ji Tongzhou quietly gazed at the wisteria hanging over the courtyard wall. He wasn’t in a good mood and had barely spoken all day.
Although he had quickly learned sword flight today and flew no worse than those beggars, in the end, he was still outperformed. They had learned faster and better than him.
He had always prided himself on being a prodigy, beloved among the royal clan of the State of Yue. Although he wasn’t the only one in the clan with spiritual roots, he had always been the strongest from childhood. Even among the disciples selected for the Fledgling Phoenix Academy, he was confident that he was the strongest.
But this confidence had been gradually crumbling since the initial selection for the Fledgling Phoenix Academy.
In fighting, he found he couldn’t beat Jiang Lifei; in sword flight, he was even inferior to that constantly crying, incompetent beggar.
He was of noble birth. From the servants and maids in his household to the children of officials and ministers, even the princesses and princes of various vassal states, all held him in high esteem. But at the academy, not only was he living with two beggars, but the other disciples ignored him. They would rather talk to Ye Ye and the others than spare him a glance. The only ones by his side were Princess Lanya and his sycophants—everything he had once prided himself on was slowly slipping away.
The proud young prince couldn’t accept this disparity for the moment and let out a soft sigh.
The sycophant beside him immediately stepped forward to comfort him: “Your Highness, you’ve only been at the academy for a couple of days. Why are you sighing? Why don’t we go to the north side for a meal? It’s livelier with more people.”
The second sycophant sneered: “His Highness doesn’t lack money. Why should he go to the north side and mingle with those lowly commoners? It would only dirty his clothes! In my opinion, we should dine in the disciples’ quarters. Being with Princess Lanya would be more refined.”
Ji Tongzhou coldly watched the sycophants around him fawning and flattering. Usually, this would have put him in a good mood, but today, for some reason, it only made him more irritable.
Among these people, how many truly cared for him? Perhaps most of them were only interested in his status as a prince. These people had been selected from childhood to accompany him, all talented children from common families. Their parents had received large sums of money and noble status because of this. If… if one day he couldn’t become a powerful pillar supporting the royal clan of Yue, would anyone still care about him?
Ji Tongzhou felt somewhat anxious. It wasn’t that he had never thought about these questions, but each time he had only just begun to think about them before immediately pushing them to the back of his mind. Even now, he was unwilling to deeply consider these issues.
No one hated the idea that “he might not be that strong” more than he did. He wouldn’t allow himself to admit it. He would be the strongest, he must be!
The courtyard gate was gently opened, and light, graceful footsteps approached. Among the academy disciples, only Lanya had such etiquette and poise. Ji Tongzhou knew it was her without turning around. The orchid fragrance from the hem of her skirt, mixed with the cool scent of ivy vines, was unique.
“Your Highness, aren’t you going to dine yet?” Princess Lanya smiled as she walked to his side. “It’s getting late.”
Ji Tongzhou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly said, “…Why don’t we go to the northern island and see what food they have?”
Princess Lanya’s pretty face immediately darkened, but she forced a smile and said, “Your Highness, Lanya has never dined with commoners. Moreover, given your different status, going to such a place might tarnish your noble purity.”
Ji Tongzhou nodded silently: “…Let’s go inside to eat.”
“Your Highness, please go first.” Lanya stepped back and half-bowed, waiting for him to enter.
Standard etiquette, flawless movements—compared to the casual and unrestrained behavior of the other disciples, they seemed like people from different worlds.
Suddenly, the courtyard gate sounded again. It was Lei Xiuyuan returning alone. When Ji Tongzhou saw him, he felt a wave of gloom and irritation. The memory of yesterday, when Lei had outperformed him in sword flight, came flooding back.
He frowned and pushed open the door, about to enter, when Lanya suddenly spoke timidly from the side: “Your Highness…”
What is it? He turned back impatiently, only to see that his sycophants had somehow gone over to block Lei Xiuyuan. They probably saw that he was in a bad mood and wanted to take it out on this cowardly beggar on his behalf.
“Hey! Who said you could come in?” One of the sycophants spread his arms to block the way, shouting arrogantly: “Our prince is about to dine. If a smelly beggar comes in, even the food will stink! Get lost!”
Lei Xiuyuan looked at them coldly, neither speaking nor moving. The group thought he was scared stiff and became even more smug. One of them stepped forward and pushed him hard: “I told you to get lost! If you don’t leave, we’ll beat you up!”
They thought this little beggar would fall over with one push like before and then burst into tears. But today, after pushing him two or three times, he didn’t budge.
“What’s all this noise!” Ji Tongzhou frowned and shouted to stop them. He wasn’t in the mood for trouble today. “All of you, come here!”
The sycophants reluctantly cursed and gave Lei Xiuyuan another push: “The prince is being merciful today. Get lost!”
Unexpectedly, one of their wrists was suddenly grabbed. The other person’s five fingers were like iron pliers, causing him to cry out in pain immediately. When he looked closely, he saw that the person grabbing him was a cowardly and weak beggar.
Lei Xiuyuan frowned deeply and said grimly: “As it happens, I’m in a bad mood. Why don’t you let me vent my anger!”
As he finished speaking, there was a “crack” sound, and the boy whose arm was grabbed immediately turned pale. He rolled on the ground, clutching his arm, and it took a long time before he let out a scream of agony—his hand! It felt like his wrist was about to break!