On the twelfth day, the Heaven Dou Empire's convoy took a shortcut to reach Spirit City one day earlier. They entered a hilly area prone to ambushes. The peaks in this region rose as high as 100 meters, with steep, rocky cliffs. The only passable route was a narrow 30-meter-wide passage through the hills—an ideal location for military strategists to set up an ambush.
Sure enough, just as the convoy reached the halfway point, a battle erupted. The people of Spirit Hall had made their move. Using rolling boulders, they cut off the connection between the major academies, making it difficult for them to support one another. A small number of black-clad figures engaged the teachers and students of the academies to keep them occupied, while the majority concentrated their assault on Blazing Fire Academy.
That's right! Spirit Hall's target this time wasn't Shrek Academy—it was Blazing Fire Academy. Since Tang San had revealed his Clear Sky Hammer spirit during the promotion matches and temporarily joined Blazing Fire Academy, the academy had become the primary target of Spirit Hall's assault.
Ye Feng made a decisive choice—to protect Huo Wu. While Shrek Academy swiftly handled their enemies and moved to support Blazing Fire Academy, Ye Feng alone did something unexpected. Instead of aiding Blazing Fire Academy, he intercepted Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Xue Qinghe, who were about to rush toward Shrek Academy's battlefield.
"Is something wrong?" Ning Fengzhi asked, puzzled.
"Uncle Ning, Master, you two should go support Blazing Fire Academy. That's the main target of the mysterious attackers," Ye Feng stated firmly. Then he turned to Xue Qinghe. "Brother, come with me. There's another place that needs your help."
"Where?" Xue Qinghe asked curiously.
"Just follow me," Ye Feng replied before leaping into the distance, heading in a direction completely different from Blazing Fire Academy.
Xue Qinghe hesitated, his eyes narrowing with wariness. He glanced at Ning Fengzhi.
"Go," Ning Fengzhi said, placing a reassuring hand on Xue Qinghe's shoulder. He smiled. "Ye Feng may joke around a lot, but when it comes to serious matters, he doesn't mess around."
Xue Qinghe stiffened. Ning Fengzhi had seen through him. It was true—he was wary of Ye Feng. Every time they met, Ye Feng found a way to tease him. It was as if Ye Feng couldn't help but take advantage of him whenever they crossed paths.
Still, Ning Fengzhi's words made sense. After a moment of hesitation, Xue Qinghe nodded, then took off, following Ye Feng's lead.
As they traveled farther from the convoy, Xue Qinghe grew increasingly suspicious. "Where exactly are you taking me?" he asked.
Ye Feng remained silent and pressed forward.
"If you don't answer, I'm going back," Xue Qinghe warned, stopping in place.
Finally, Ye Feng halted and turned to face him. "I brought you here because I have something important to tell you," he said, stepping closer.
"What is it?" Xue Qinghe asked.
Instead of answering, Ye Feng suddenly moved behind him. Then—slap!
A crisp sound echoed through the air as Ye Feng smacked Xue Qinghe on the butt.
Xue Qinghe's face darkened. "Ye Feng, show some respect!" he snapped angrily.
But Ye Feng completely ignored his protest. He stepped back in front of Xue Qinghe, rubbing his chin as he gave him a once-over with an appraising look. His eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Not bad. Your body's well-developed, and you look good, too," Ye Feng mused. Then, grinning, he added, "If you were a woman, I might actually be tempted."
Xue Qinghe's expression turned stormy. "Ye! Feng!" he growled, fists clenched. "Everyone misjudged you! Even my teacher believed you had a sense of propriety when it came to serious matters. But in reality, you're nothing but a shameless scoundrel!"
Furious, Xue Qinghe turned to leave, his temper boiling over. He shot into the air, intending to return to the convoy.
But just as he took off, three words rang out behind him—words that made him freeze in midair.
"Qian Renxue."
Xue Qinghe's body stiffened. He turned back, his face unreadable. "Qian Renxue? She's here too? Where is she?"
If he were an actor, Xue Qinghe's performance would have won him an Oscar. Unfortunately, his opponent was Ye Feng.
"Drop the act," Ye Feng said flatly, pointing at him. "You are Qian Renxue."
Xue Qinghe didn't even flinch. He chuckled twice and scoffed. "Ye Feng, I think you're not just a shameless rogue—you're a lunatic."
Spinning around, he tried to leave again, but Ye Feng teleported in front of him, blocking his path.
"Don't bother denying it," Ye Feng continued. "Your mother told me everything."
Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes. "Mother? Who?"
"The Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong."
"She?"
"You forgot, didn't you? She visited me once during the preliminaries. She told me your true identity."
Xue Qinghe sneered. "Hah! Ye Feng, are you stupid? Do you really think I'd believe that?" He smirked. "Tell me—what did Spirit Hall offer you? How much did they pay you to betray your teacher, Chen Xin? To betray Ning Fengzhi, who cares about you so much?"
Ye Feng sighed. "Alright, fine. I admit it. Your mother didn't tell me anything. I made that part up."
"Hmph." Xue Qinghe snorted and turned his back on Ye Feng, exhaling in relief. That had been way too close. For a moment, he really thought Bibi Dong had exposed him. His heart had nearly leaped out of his chest.
He had almost fallen into Ye Feng's trap.
He knew he couldn't afford to keep talking. Without another word, he launched himself into the air again, heading straight for the convoy.
But just ten meters into his flight, Ye Feng's next words stopped him cold.
"I think no matter how powerful the disguise of the Angel Spirit Bone is, it can't erase the fundamental differences between men and women."
Xue Qinghe froze. A chill ran down his spine.
Fundamental differences between men and women? What did Ye Feng mean?
Ye Feng grinned wickedly. "Women are very different from men. Especially women over twenty. You see, women… have good friends who visit them several times a month."
Good friends? The kind of good friends that visit several times a month?
Xue Qinghe's eyes widened, his breath hitching. His instincts screamed that this time, there was no way out.
Ye Feng's grin widened as he leaned in, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Tell me, my dear brother—how long has it been since your good friend last came to visit?"
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Do you want to read Advanced Chapters?
Visit this link:
Påtreon.com/Fanficlord03
Change (å) to (a)