Chapter 72: 72 Chapter 71: Jealousy

Unable to alter the trajectory of their attacks or halt them in time, Pang Feng's gauntlet and Liang Shao Yang's swords smashed into poor Zi Xiao Ji, reducing her into a bloody pulp and killing her instantly.

…or would have, if someone hadn't stepped in to intervene in time.

"!"

"You…!"

Both Pang Feng and Liang Shao Yang stepped back, their expressions frozen in shock and disbelief. Similarly, Zi Xiao Ji slowly raised her head, surprised that she was still alive after her reckless and utterly stupid action.

"Uh…"

Two ice shields protected her from both sides, huge dents carved into their frozen surface. The Spirit Engraving gleamed, despite the rents that destroyed them, and the glacial barriers still held. The gauntlet and blades had pulverized most of the ice, reaching to the final layer of defense before finally halting.

Pushing my glasses up my nose as I stood up, I cast a cold glare at both Pang Feng and Liang Shao Yang.

"The cafeteria is a place for eating, not fighting. If you want to kill each other, go do it outside, and not in here."

"That's…I'm sorry."

Pang Feng looked ashamed of himself and lowered his head. His fighting intent and aggressive qi dissipated almost immediately. He turned to Zi Xiao Ji and cupped his hands apologetically, bowing deeply.

"I apologize for frightening and almost hurting you, Miss Zi Xiao Ji."

"No, not at all. I'm fine, so everything's all right!"

Zi Xiao Ji tried to wave everything away.

"Please don't be too hard on my brother." A young girl who was about a couple of years older than me showed up and also bowed. "He was only standing up for me."

"Yeah…" Pang Feng raised his head to glare at Liang Shao Yang, who still remained cold and indifferent, but his sister quickly placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Brother," Pang Yun said with a shake of his head. "That's enough. I appreciate you standing up for me, but we shouldn't be troubling everyone else."

"…"

Pang Feng took a deep breath and finally nodded. He turned toward everyone and bowed his head.

"I'm very sorry, everyone."

"It's all right."

"Yeah, it's not your fault."

Clearly, Pang Feng was popular with everyone, for the crowd dismissed his apology and assured him that he was fine. There were a few looks of hostility cast at Liang Shao Yang's direction, but as always, he ignored them.

"Thank you again," Zi Xiao Ji told me. I flapped my hand frantically.

"Nah, I didn't do anything."

"You just saved her life," Pang Yun told me with a gentle smile. Zi Xiao Ji enthusiastically nodded in agreement.

"That's right!"

"How stupid," Liang Shao Yang muttered and turned away.

"Hmph." Liang Shao Yang snorted. "I wasn't the one who forced her to jump in the middle of a battle despite not having the strength necessary to do so."

That said, I noticed how he panicked and tried to stop (despite failing) when he spotted Zi Xiao Ji earlier. Evidently, even Liang Shao Yang wasn't dumb enough to cause harm to the daughter of the sect leader and his wife.

"Bastard…" Pang Feng growled, but Pang Yun held him back again. Shaking her head, she whispered firmly in her brother's ear.

"Brother, that's enough. Liang Shao Yang is not worth it."

"…"

Pang Feng took a deep breath, closed his eyes and turned away with his bulky arms folded across his broad chest.

"Are you sure you're all right?" I asked Zi Xiao Ji. She nodded with a smile, despite still looking a little shaky.

"Ah, yes. But I should be the one asking you that. After all, you're the one who took the full brunt of the blow…"

"Not me. My shields did." I tapped my ice shields, both of which shattered instantly at my touch and rained upon the ground in icy crystals.

"Thanks for intervening and saving Miss Zi's life." I initially wasn't sure why Pang Feng was expressing his gratitude to me, then I realized that he was relieved that he was thanking me for saving him from being a criminal who murdered the daughter of the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect leader and his wife. That would bring about terrible repercussions.

"Nah, I only did what anyone else would have done. Besides, it isn't that much of a big deal. I really didn't do much."

"Still, that's pretty impressive." Tong Xue finally showed up, gaping at me. "How did you stop the attacks from not one, but two martial artists at the peak of the Flowing Qi Stage? You only seem to be at the middle level of the Flowing Qi Stage at most."

I rolled my eyes. Again with this whole bullshit regarding stages and levels. I didn't care too much about how I was vastly inferior to my opponents in terms of levels or stages, it wouldn't have made any difference in deciding to jump out and save Zi Xiao Ji.

"Now that you've mentioned it, your qi seems a little irregular," Pang Feng remarked, studying me. "I can't really estimate your level or stage."

"You mean it's normal to go around estimating people's stages and levels?" I blurted out with a raised eyebrow. "Do you guys go everywhere with qi measuring devices, or are you guys walking qi estimators? How exactly do you measure someone just from sensing someone's qi? Are you able to accurately quantify and categorize someone's strength just from sensing his qi?"

Everybody just stared at me.

"Uh…yes?" Tong Xue said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"If anything, it's weird that you are unable to measure and judge what level or stage someone is at," Pang Feng agreed. "You should be able to tell just from the amount of qi he emanates."

"And how exactly do I measure that amount, other than 'it's a lot' or 'it's very little'?"

This was just too vague and made no sense to me. Everyone just stared at me again, not sure how to respond.

"It's hard to explain. We just…do."

Thanks for the completely useless answer.

"Hmm, maybe you're already at the Qi Fusion Stage?" Tong Xue mused to himself as he scrutinized me. I was growing uncomfortable under his gaze and took a step in reflex. "What stage have you reached, Fei Wu?"

"How would I know?!" I snapped. "Am I supposed to be able to quantify my qi with nothing but instincts and qi sense, and then categorize it according to stages and levels?"

I mean, even on Earth, people didn't just divide their strengths into classifications based on some obscure sense. If you wanted to know the strength of your grip, you use a device that measured your output of strength in terms of kilograms, and even then the results would vary. You usually wouldn't get the identical quantity of strength twice. Physical proficiency was measured through how many pushups or pull ups you could do, or how fast you could run a certain distance – measured by using a timer or clock. Nobody just stared at you, use some sense, and then say, "Oh, your grip is at level 10!" or "You're at the level of running 4 kilometers in fifteen minutes!"

As for martial arts, the whole Dan system was incorporated by basing it on tests, not quantifiable numbers. If your master was satisfied with your performance in a test, then you get whatever Dan number they arbitrarily assigned you. And even most masters admit that these Dan ranking was essentially meaningless. A 10-dan karate black belt might still lose to an experienced fighter without any belts or Dan ranking in a street fight.

But obviously no one paid any attention to whatever I was saying. They were still obsessed with trying to figure out my levels and stages.

"What do you think, Senior Pang?"

"Hmm, well, you seem to have a point…"

I give up…

"Wow, as expected of Sister Qi Hong's assistant!" Zi Xiao Ji clapped her hands, impressed. "No wonder she chose you!"

"No, that was just a coincidence…"

Even as I downplayed that remark, my curiosity was piqued by the way Zi Xiao Ji addressed Tang Qi Hong. Not as Senior Tang Qi Hong, but as Sister Qi Hong. Basically, in Chinese, normal people would address Tang Qi Hong as Tang Qi Hong Shi Jie, which literally means Senior (Big Sister) Tang Qi Hong, but Zi Xiao Ji was presently calling her Tang Qi Hong Jie Jie, which literally means Big Sister Tang Qi Hong, but in a more affectionate manner.

She must have some sort of relationship with Tang Qi Hong…
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While thinking that, I caught a glimpse of something flickering in Pang Feng's eyes. But the glint was gone after a second and he forced a smile.

"So you're the assistant, huh…" he whispered to himself. He sounded disappointed – not disappointed with me, but at something else. Perhaps himself. It was almost as if he was jealous of me, but I couldn't be sure.

"In any case," I spoke up, clearing my throat. "I'm hungry and I want dinner. But the place is pretty trashed up, so let's help the poor staff clean up the place and repair everything before grabbing a bite. What do you guys say?"

With the exception of Liang Shao Yang, who had long departed the cafeteria, no one had any objections.

*

"Heh…"

The next day, Tang Qi Hong seemed to be in a foul mood. When she came to my apartment, she stopped at my doorway, folding her arms and tapping her foot impatiently against the ground. Her clear, sky blue eyes bore into me with heated intensity.

I shuddered involuntarily, wondering why she was so ticked off.

"Um…is everything all right?"

"Why wouldn't anything be?" Tang Qi Hong replied coldly. Shaking her head, she gestured toward a box of Sapphire Scorpion corpses. "Here's your next task. I need you to skin these Sapphire Scorpions and extract their scales in one piece. Make sure you don't damage them! They're vital ingredients to be used for crafting protective armor!"

"Understood. I'll get it done right away. When do you need it?"

"Nine days. Don't rush. If you break the scales, I'll deduct from your mission rewards."

I gulped. That was something I didn't want, so I nodded and made the sign of the Aquila. Praying to the God-Emperor that I would succeed without any problems, I accepted the box of Sapphire Scorpion Corpses and brought them into my workshop.

"You…seem to be pretty close with Xiao Ji, aren't you?"

"Huh?!" I almost dropped the box of Sapphire Scorpion corpses from shock. "Where did that come from, all of a sudden?!"

Tang Qi Hong's lip curled. "There's no use pretending. Last night, Xiao Ji came to me and raved about how you're her hero and everything. She said I was lucky and extremely perceptive, having the great insight to pick you as my assistant."

Somehow I doubted luck and insight had anything to do with her decision, but I wisely kept my counsel to myself.

Instead, I shook my head. "I helped her out yesterday, when she tried to stop Liang Shao Yang and Senior Pang Feng from attacking each other. But I assure you, yesterday was the first time I met her. I'm not close to her or anything."

Tang Qi Hong's expression softened and she sighed.

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"Well, Xiao Ji is a good girl. Ever since I came to this sect, she was like a sister to me. That's why I'm a little protective of her." she glared at me. "So I'll make sure nobody takes advantage of her innocence! Xiao Ji is still impressionable and naïve. But she's really cute, so there are a lot of people aiming for her."

"If they do, they'll be getting a visit from the FBI soon enough," I muttered under my breath. Tang Qi Hong frowned.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Just that anyone aiming for a little girl like Zi Xiao Ji has to be sick in the head. And fearless, if they think they can just court the baby daughter of the Sect leader and his wife."

"Xiao Ji might look like that, but she's actually no longer a little girl, you know." For some reason, Tang Qi Hong looked a little satisfied with my response and nodded in approval. A chill ran down my back when I saw her expression.

"Er…okay."

"Anyway, I'll be counting on you for the Sapphire Scorpions. I'll be back!"

Watching her leave, I shook my head and turned my attention back toward the box of dead magical beasts.

Time to consult Google again…

*

"NOOOO!!!!!"

While I slaved away in my personal workshop, I was unaware that something was transpiring elsewhere.

Tang Qi Hong was dashing into Lian Rou's VIP pavilion and shrieking as if she was being chased by a hundred ghosts.

"AAAAAAAAH!"

Caught completely off guard by Tang Qi Hong, Lian Rou let out a screech too. If Tong Xue heard her scream, he would have immediately rushed to her position, but unfortunately she was too far away for him to know what was happening.

"Qi Hong! Don't scare me like that!"

Lian Rou shook her head, annoyed, and picked up the digital tablet whose screen she was inscribing a Spirit Engraving on with her stylus. Patting her chest with her other hand, she smiled as Tang Qi Hong swept into her pavilion as if she owned the place and dropped down into a luxurious couch with a wail.

"What's the matter?"

"I screwed up!"

Lian Rou's brow furrowed at Tang Qi Hong's words. She tilted her head, unsure of what Tang Qi Hong was talking about.

"What did you screw up on? Did you make a mistake in the final step and ruined the spirit engraved weapon that you had been forging for hours?"

"No, not that!" Tang Qi Hong sobbed. "I…I wanted to tell Fei Wu the truth! I wanted to tell him my feelings, but I screwed up and got irritated with him, snapping at him even though he did nothing wrong! I mean, Xiao Ji even told me the truth of what happened last night, but I got so jealous that I couldn't think straight, and I…"

"…snapped at him." Lian Rou sighed and shrugged, having guessed the situation even before Tang Qi Hong finished her sentence. They weren't best friends for nothing. "But I'm sure Fei Wu, being the nice guy that he is, didn't quarrel with you, right?"

"No, he just…offered an explanation. It completely tallied with what Xiao Ji told me yesterday. He didn't even know what was going on. And…" a slight smile touched her lips. "It seems that he thinks of Xiao Ji as a little kid, not as a woman. I don't think he's attracted to her at all."

"…right. I'm sure that's the normal mentality. So what's the problem?"

"I…I failed again! I failed to tell him how I feel! It feels like I'm getting further and further away from him! And now a potential new rival might have showed up! If I don't act fast, he might get taken away by some other girl! But…my pride and embarrassment always get in the way! UGH!"

Lian Rou just watched in amusement, fascinated by the drama and antics of her best friend. She shook her head and sighed.

"Well, even if you fail to get Fei Wu, it's not as if you're totally short on suitors. You should know that almost every single male guy in the sect is trying to woo you."

"Ugh. Yeah, I know." Tang Qi Hong winced. "But I don't know how to…deal with them. I don't want to just flat-out reject them. That will hurt their feelings."

"And you choosing Fei Wu over them wouldn't?" Lian Rou countered with a roll of her eyes. "Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. You'll have to make the decision sooner or later, and it won't change the outcome."

"…I know." Tang Qi Hong hugged her knees to her well-endowed chest. "But that doesn't make it any easier…"

"I understand." Lian Rou placed a soothing arm over Lian Rou's shoulders. "Speaking of the other suitors, make sure you keep your guard up around Liang Shao Yang. He clearly seems to be aiming for you. Make sure you don't fall for his tricks."

"I knew that from the beginning," Tang Qi Hong replied, but then she frowned. "Wouldn't Senior Hu Mei Er be trying to seduce him instead?"

"Senior Hu seems to be keeping a low profile after the incident in the entrance exam." Both girls burst out laughing at Hu Mei Er's misfortune, but Lian Rou turned serious. "Be careful, though. Senior Hu seems bent on trying to steal Fei Wu away from you, and after that incident, I'm sure she's planning some sort of revenge against him as well."

"…Fei Wu doesn't even seem interested in her…or me, for that matter." Tang Qi Hong stared blankly at the blank television screen.

"Well, like I said, you have a lot of other suitors," Lian Rou comforted her with a smile. "Yun's brother also seems to have a crush on you as well."

"Pang Feng?" Tang Qi Hong frowned before shaking her head. "I wonder about that. He rarely speaks to me. I think the only person in his heart is his sister. He spends most of his time cultivating and training martial arts…" she grimaced. "Much like Fei Wu. Those two are really similar. Pang Feng seems completely focused on joining the Blood Blades. I believe you might be overthinking this."

"Maybe." Lian Rou shrugged in resignation, not bothering to argue with her best friend. "I hope you're right."

*

"Brother, you should learn to take the initiative. If you don't express your feelings even in the slightest, she'll never notice you, you know!"

At the base of the volcano, right next to the gleaming lake, Pang Yun launched into a lecture regarding romance despite not having any experience herself. Pang Feng refrained from mentioning that and merely watched as his sister stared wistfully across the surface of the clear, bluish lake. Without turning to face him, she continued.

"There are so many guys trying to woo Senior Tang. I doubt even Senior Tang herself bothers to remember many of their names. If you never tell her, she'll never look in your direction."

Pang Feng sighed and leaned back as he sat on the grass. Staring at the lake, he steeled himself and offered a quiet but dignified response.

"Yun, you don't have to worry about me. You just need to concentrate on forging Spirit Engraved gear."

"How can I not worry?" Pang Yun snorted. "Never mind the seniors from the inner sect, just look at the new cohort. That Liang Shao Yang, for example. He's clearly gunning for Senior Tang. He has quite the background to support him too, being the youngest son of the sect leader of the Divine Shadow Sect. neither his cultivation stage nor his looks are inferior to yours. He'll prove to be a very formidable rival."

Pang Feng said nothing, but he scowled at the mention of Liang Shao Yang's name as he recalled the bastard's provocation of him and Yun last night. Pang Yun looked a little relieved at being able to get a reaction from him.

"There's also that number two hundred and forty-four Fei Wu. I've done a little digging into his background, but he appears to be remarkably ordinary. He comes from a normal family. His dad was a former martial artist who worked as a soldier in the Imperial Guard, but that's about it. No other connections to major clans or sects. He was previously considered trash in Wu Ling Academy, but he overcame his lack of talent – his One Star Constitution – to surpass many of the other students. He kept a low profile during the past two years after an incident regarding the now annihilated Chinese Parasol Tree Sect, but…as you saw for yourself last night, he is not weak at all."

Pang Feng nodded, half-distracted, as his eyes remained on the calm surface of the lake before them.

"Not only that, he has been personally selected by Senior Tang herself to be her assistant. It's clear that she holds affection for him. That affection will only grow as they spend more time together. If you dally around for too long, you'll no longer be able to vie for her heart!"

"I already told you that you don't have to worry about it," Pang Feng assured her quietly but stubbornly.

"Hmph!" Pang Yun snapped. "Fine, then! See if I care!"

Rising to her feet, she dusted off her skirt and stalked off angrily, pouting as she deliberately ignored her brother.

Pang Feng didn't chase after her. Even after his sister disappeared from view, he continued to focus on the surface of the lake, and finally whispered to himself.

"Fei Wu, was it? He's actually quite the character." he nodded to himself as he remembered how I saved Zi Xiao Ji from him and Liang Shao Yang yesterday. However, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Even so, I…"

The breeze blew, carrying his words into the air.

"…I still can't let go of her, after all."

*

On the opposite side of the lake, inside an apartment that was quite a distance away from my and Tong Xue's residence, Liang Shao Yang brooded darkly.

There was an inner sect disciple from the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect inhabiting the same room as him. Over a week ago, he had selected Liang Shao Yang to be his assistant, the latter having rejected Hu Mei Er's request. Even though he supposedly held the superior position, he was greeting Liang Shao Yang humbly. His tone even contained traces of flattery as he bowed his head.

"Shao Yang, how is the sect leader of Divine Shadow Sect?"

"Thank you for your concern, Senior. Father is doing well." Liang Shao Yang responded without turning to face his senior. He continued to ponder for a few more seconds, and then he snapped his fingers. "Ah…!"

The inner sect disciple, Hao Ying, blinked and gaped at his junior, not sure what he was trying to do. Liang Shao Yang cleared his throat in embarrassment and tried to resume a serious expression in order to regain his dignity.

Unfortunately, it was too late. He was already a joke. At that time, I wasn't aware of this, but when I found out about it, I found his behavior amusing.

"I have a request, Senior."

"What is it, Shao Yang?" Hao Ying frowned, but didn't protest.

"Can you please investigate that Fei Wu's background?"

"Already did so. There's nothing remarkable about him at all." Hao Ying essentially repeated all the information that Pang Yun already gathered on me. "As you can see, he's nothing more than an ordinary martial artist. He has no experience in Spirit Engraving or forging spirit armaments, and he wasn't even able to absorb the artificial qi that the labs in Wu Ling Academy produced."

"Yet he survived two extremely dangerous situations and even seemed to have prospered from them." Liang Shao Yang frowned. "He definitely is not someone to be underestimated."

"Perhaps so, but surely he is no match for you, Shao Yang." Hao Ying's eyes darkened. "And regardless, he is still a poor match for Tang Qi Hong."

He took a deep breath and glanced out of the window, his eyes taking on a faraway look.

"Tang Qi Hong has triggered reactions from not one but two Spirit Engraved Pillars. She is held in high regard by both the current Sect Leader and his wife, the Sect Mistress, and received teachings personally from them both. She also received the recognition and personal lessons from First Elder Hai Mo. She herself is a true genius in the arts of blacksmithing and Spirit Engraving. As long as nothing untoward happens, her position as the sect's next leader is virtually guaranteed."

He then turned back to face Liang Shao Yang.

"Shao Yang, if you are able to move her heart and establish a connection with her…in other words, if you are able to make her fall for you and eventually marry you, then in the future, the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect will definitely become the personal armory for Divine Shadow Sect! All of the blacksmiths and Spirit Engravers will serve the Divine Shadow Sect, giving them weapons! And Divine Shadow Sect will attain unprecedented power and be elevated to new heights!"

"That goes without saying," Liang Shao Yang replied coldly. "The whole reason for me coming to the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect in the first place is to aim for Tang Qi Hong and eventually earn her hand in marriage. To unify both our sects."

Hao Ying nodded enthusiastically, but was unable to resist adding a final reminder.

"But before that, there's one last obstacle to eliminate."

"Fei Wu, huh?" Liang Shao Yang sneered cruelly. "Just as his name suggests, he's nothing but trash. I'll just dispose of him as per normal."

Far away, while trying to peel off the delicate Sapphire Scorpion scales without breaking them, I was forced to turn my head away to sneeze.

"AH CHOO!"

Sniffling, I shuddered when I felt a sudden chill run down my back.

What the fuck, man?! Why are people still talking about me behind my back?!

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