Chapter 23: I Didn't Expect It to Walk and Talk
Spiritual Song Contest?
Xia Feng was about to bend down to pick up the flyer when a pair of exquisite, high heels stepped onto the paper, pinning it to the ground. His gaze traveled upward, following the sleek black skirt until he met the cold, expressionless face of the Witch of Destruction.
Mu Qingtong stared down at him, her presence as imposing as ever.
Xia Feng straightened up, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "Ms. Mu, are you planning to participate in the national competition? I must say, I admire your ambition!"
Mu Qingtong: ( _ )
The Imperial Spiritual Song Contest was a prestigious national event, renowned across all fifty-one administrative regions of the Human Empire. For nearly a century, it had been a massive star-making platform, catapulting its winners to unparalleled fame.
But the competition was no ordinary talent show. Contestants had to be apprentice spiritualists, capable of infusing their singing with spiritual pressure to evoke powerful emotional responses from their audience. This unique ability made spiritual singing competitions a cultural phenomenon, with every national champion becoming a household name.
What Xia Feng couldn't wrap his head around, however, was why someone like Mu Qingtong—a genius in her own right—would even consider participating. After all, her singing was... well, less than stellar.
"Do you have nothing better to do?" Mu Qingtong frowned, her voice cutting through his thoughts.
"Not at the moment," Xia Feng replied with a grin.
With a quick wave, he slipped out of the classroom, offering an encouraging fist shake as he left. "Good luck! I'm rooting for you to win the competition~"
Mu Qingtong: —_—
As he turned the corner, Xia Feng felt a prickling sense of danger, like needles grazing his skin. He quickened his pace, not stopping until he was well out of sight.
Glancing back at the Spiritual Song Society, a sly smile crept onto his face.
Who would've thought that a chance encounter with Mu Qingtong would turn out to be so profitable? Not only had he walked away with a Bronze Mask and two grams of Infinite Stone, but he'd also managed to leave an impression on her with the Six-Tails Spirit Clothe.
And, of course, he'd discovered her Achilles' heel: her terrible singing.
Haha~ Being a little World-Destroying Witch isn't so hard after all!
Xia Feng's grin widened, his expression almost villainous as he reveled in his small victory.
Meanwhile, Mu Qingtong stood silently by the door, her gaze fixed on the spot where Xia Feng had disappeared. The faint annoyance she'd felt earlier began to fade, replaced by a pensive stillness.
Fei emerged from the shadows, standing beside her master. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Master, have you noticed? This is the first time in years that you've been so... affected by someone. It's as if you care about his opinion of you."
Mu Qingtong tilted her head, her pale golden eyes reflecting the fading sunlight. "Oh? Is that so?"
She chuckled softly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Fei, you know, I've been searching for my mirror for so long. I always imagined finding it would be a surprise, but I never expected it to walk and talk."
She paused, her gaze distant. "Tell me, how could I not care?"
Fei tilted her head, her expressionless face betraying a flicker of confusion. "Master, I still don't understand."
Mu Qingtong thought for a moment, then explained in a low, measured tone. "It's like finding a doll. At first, it's just a cute, inanimate object. But then, it starts to move, to speak, to interact with you. And suddenly, you're fascinated. You want to take it apart, to see what's inside. What makes it tick. What color its heart is."
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "And you wonder if it's just like you."
Fei blinked, still not entirely grasping her master's meaning but sensing the gravity of her words.
"So, Master has decided to participate in the spiritual song competition?" she asked.
Mu Qingtong nodded. "Reluctantly, yes. But it's the only way to grow stronger."
[Mushroom Hates Potatoes: Are you done yet?]
As soon as Xia Feng stepped out of the teaching building, a message from Mushroom popped up, urging him to hurry.
[Mu Nanfeng: On my way.]
'Mushroom Hates Potatoes' was Mushroom's gaming alias, while 'Mu Nanfeng' was his. They'd made plans to grab dinner and play games together later.
As a student with no grand ambitions and average talent, Xia Feng figured he deserved a little relaxation after a long day.
[Over the course of one night, you further analyzed the three-body structure of the C-rank Spirit Clothe "Three Tails"—8%.]
Sister Mu, keep pushing yourself. Don't stop now! I can handle it!
Xia Feng arrived at the restaurant in high spirits.
It was late afternoon, and the academy cafeteria was bustling with students. After scanning the crowd for a good three minutes, he finally spotted Mushroom by the distinctive tuft of hair sticking up from her head.
"Mushroom, you really need to grow taller. Otherwise, you'll never find a boyfriend," Xia Feng teased as he sat down.
Mushroom's cheeks were stuffed with a chicken leg, her lips glistening with grease. She glared at him with wide, watery eyes, her mouth too full to retort.
Gulp—
She swallowed hard, and Xia Feng pushed a bowl of soup toward her. "Slow down. No one's going to steal your food."
Mushroom took a big gulp of soup, then slammed her hands on the table, her expression suddenly serious. "Dad, I need your help!"
Xia Feng: "???"
Wow, she must be desperate to drop the "Dad" card.
"What kind of help?" he asked cautiously.
Mushroom leaned in, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I want an autographed photo of Goddess Mu."
Xia Feng raised an eyebrow. "You're starstruck now? Look, I've only met Mu Qingtong a few times. We're not exactly close. She's not going to just hand me an autograph."
Mushroom pouted, her hands clasped together as she gave him her best pleading look. "Dad, please~~"
"!!!" Xia Feng nearly choked. "Okay, okay, stop! I'll try next time I see her, alright?"
Mushroom's hair perked up, and she beamed with delight.
But just then, a commotion erupted outside the restaurant. Students turned their heads as a group of seven or eight young men entered, surrounding a tall, long-haired figure dressed in elegant white clerical robes adorned with black moons.
"Look, it's Senior Yan!" a girl whispered excitedly to her friend.
"That's right. I heard he was scouted by the Black Moon Church as a sophomore and became a Silver Armor Knight in just six months. He's even the guardian knight of Cha Naxue now!"
"Every guardian knight is a genius handpicked from the best campuses. Senior Yan's record for the fastest promotion to apprentice spiritualist still stands unbroken."
The whispers of admiration filled the air as the group made their way through the cafeteria.
Xia Feng's eyes narrowed as he recognized the young man at the center of the group. Yan Xujia. What's he doing back at the academy?
"Let me tell you something," Mushroom whispered, her voice low. "That guy's the son of Marquis Dongbo. He's not someone you want to mess with. His father's a real piece of work."
Da-da-da—
The sound of footsteps grew louder as the group approached. The cafeteria fell silent, all eyes on the newcomers.
Xia Feng glanced at Mushroom and chuckled. "I didn't go looking for trouble, but sometimes trouble finds you anyway."
Mushroom's carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by visible tension. She was never one to handle social pressure well.
Da-da-da—
The group stopped in front of their table, blocking the fading sunlight from the windows.
(End of Chapter)