Ch 107

Chapter 107- Jing Zhiyan depressed

Stone Quarry.

"Oi, Jing-xiong, what wind blew you here? Such a rare visitor!" Xiong Wei swung his legs, lazily glancing at Jing Zhiyan. The shoe on his foot had a huge hole, with most of his toes sticking out.

Jing Zhiyan rolled his eyes at Xiong Wei's sloppy look and said coldly, "I came to tell you something."

Xiong Wei took a swig of wine and replied, "What is it?"

"Your disciple, Mu Chen, has an eighth-grade aptitude. Did you know that?" Jing Zhiyan asked.

"I already knew." Xiong Wei replied proudly.

Jing Zhiyan narrowed his eyes, puzzled. "You knew? How did you know?"

Xiong Wei shrugged. "Isn't it obvious? As the saying goes, a brilliant disciple reflects the brilliance of the master. I'm stronger than you and Shi Ziyu, so of course my disciple would be better than both yours and Shi Ziyu's. Just look at your little pretty faces, Ye Shi and Zhuang Yu—both eighth-grade aptitudes. How could mine be worse?"

Jing Zhiyan's face darkened. "Even if they're all eighth-grade, the brilliance of my disciple's test far outshone your Mu Chen's."

Xiong Wei curled his lips in disdain. "So what? My disciple is already a nine-star martial artist. Yours is what? Five stars?"

Jing Zhiyan clenched his fists. "He'll catch up."

"Catch up? What's the point? Your disciple is the future nüxu of my disciple—destined to be suppressed." Xiong Wei grinned like a fox who just stole a hen.

Jing Zhiyan's expression was grim. Why did he even bother coming to argue with this shameless idiot?

"Oi, don't leave yet—you rarely come here." Xiong Wei called out.

Jing Zhiyan turned, clearly annoyed. "What now?"

Xiong Wei grinned and shook the wine bottle in his hand. "I'm out of wine. If you see my disciple, tell him to bring me more."

Jing Zhiyan's eyes twitched. "You're the master and you're making your disciple deliver wine?"

Xiong Wei nodded, all seriousness. "Of course! I'm his shifu, shouldn't he honor me with a few jugs?"

Jing Zhiyan rolled his eyes: shameless!

Xiong Wei smirked. "You're cursing me as shameless in your heart, aren't you?"

"Xiong-xiong, you overthink. Why would I think that of you?" Jing Zhiyan replied, deadpan.

"Hmph! I know you're cursing me inside—no need to explain. I am shameless. But you're no better—you sneak snacks with your disciple every day!" Xiong Wei narrowed his eyes.

Jing Zhiyan frowned. "Don't spout nonsense. That's something only you would do."

"Is it nonsense? Your disciple told me himself," Xiong Wei said righteously.

Jing Zhiyan's face flushed red. "I'm leaving."

"Wait, wait!" Xiong Wei called out again.

"What is it now?" Jing Zhiyan turned, annoyed.

"It's not fair." Xiong Wei said gloomily.

Jing Zhiyan growled, "When I accepted my disciple, you gave him a meeting gift! Shouldn't you also give my disciple one?"

"How's that the same?" Xiong Wei said with an unbothered face.

"What do you mean it's not the same? My disciple is still a disciple!"

"Mine is the one doing the oppressing. Yours is being oppressed. You tell me, are they the same?" Xiong Wei grinned.

Jing Zhiyan's face flushed red with rage. This bastard!

Fine. Once he gets back, he's breaking off Ye Shi and Mu Chen immediately. His disciple is a Shuang'er, not a woman—Shuang'ers aren't invincible. Someone as outstanding as Mu Chen has no reason to hang himself on a single tree.

Watching Jing Zhiyan storm off, Xiong Wei chuckled. "So petty. No way he'll give a gift. Looks like I'll have to visit personally. Lu Han and Song Cheng have accepted some pretty great disciples, haven't they?"

Jing Zhiyan left fuming. Upon hearing Xiong Wei was going to visit Lu Han and Song Cheng to snatch disciples, he immediately felt sorry for the both of them.

---

"A-Yu."

Lan Ruofeng chased after Zhuang Yu, distressed. "What's going on with you lately? Why are you avoiding me on purpose?"

He looked at Zhuang Yu, conflicted. Between Zhuang Yu and Ye Shi, the one he truly liked was Zhuang Yu.

Zhuang Yu was tall, considerate, gentle in nature. He helped him cultivate, found treasures, and always shared them. In Lan Ruofeng's heart, Zhuang Yu was the best partner one could hope for.

If he lost Zhuang Yu, his world would fall into darkness.

"You said you don't like Ye Shi. Then why are you always around him?" Zhuang Yu said angrily.

Lan Ruofeng took his hand. "A-Yu, what are you saying? You're the only one I love."

"Really? I heard you've been spending quite a bit of time with Ye Shi," Zhuang Yu said with narrowed eyes.

"How could I like Ye Shi? You're overthinking it. He's so ugly—he doesn't even look like a proper Shuang'er." Lan Ruofeng said with a face of disgust.

If Ye Shi had been born a man, he'd be considered quite handsome—but as a Shuang'er, there was something off about it.

Lan Ruofeng didn't understand where his odd feelings toward Ye Shi came from. He only knew that if Ye Shi really liked him, it might be useful. But sadly, Ye Shi had fallen for someone else.

Every time Mu Chen's cultivation advanced, Lan Ruofeng felt like something that belonged to him was being taken. It made him feel terrible.

When Zhuang Yu heard Lan Ruofeng speak ill of Ye Shi, a sense of satisfaction rose in his chest.

Mu Chen had already been taken. If Lan Ruofeng was taken too, what would he have left?

"Didn't you tell Mu Chen that you like Ye Shi?" Zhuang Yu asked coldly.

Lan Ruofeng frowned. "Who told you that?"

Zhuang Yu pouted, "Doesn't matter. Just tell me—is it true?"

Lan Ruofeng smiled gently. "Of course not. You misunderstood."

Zhuang Yu smiled smugly, turned to look at a patch of bamboo forest, and said, "You can come out now."

Ye Shi stepped out, removing the concealment talisman.

Lan Ruofeng froze, eyes widening—Ye Shi had been there the whole time.

"You heard it, right? Ruofeng doesn't like you," Zhuang Yu said triumphantly.

Ye Shi smiled. "Good. You two are a perfect match."

"I know it's hard on you, but Ruofeng really only likes me," Zhuang Yu said with pity.

Ye Shi replied calmly, "Hard? Why would it be hard? As long as Mu Chen likes me, that's enough. Anyone else liking me is just a nuisance."

Zhuang Yu felt disappointed seeing how calm Ye Shi was. "You don't need to pretend. I understand your feelings."

A cold glint flashed in Ye Shi's eyes. "Pretend? What would I be pretending for? I'm just an ordinary martial artist with a seventh-grade aptitude—and I'm broke. My fiancé is Mu Chen, someone with eighth-grade aptitude and a loaded wallet."

"Then why did you say Lan Ruofeng likes you?" Zhuang Yu asked sharply.

"I was worried you couldn't control your man. Thought I'd help you out," Ye Shi said coldly.

Lan Ruofeng clearly didn't like him, yet kept acting affectionate. It was unbearable. So Ye Shi deliberately provoked Zhuang Yu to make things clear.

Now that the farce was over, hopefully Lan Ruofeng wouldn't dare come near him again.

---

"Shitou, your Mu Chen has an eighth-grade aptitude," Xin Ruge said as Ye Shi entered.

She'd been wondering how someone with sixth-grade aptitude could cultivate so fast—turns out Mu Chen was hiding his strength.

"I already knew." Ye Shi said proudly.

"You did? How?" Xin Ruge asked curiously.

"Take a guess." Ye Shi said naturally.

"Guess?" Xin Ruge blinked, puzzled.

Ye Shi nodded. "Mu Chen's better than Lan Ruofeng. Lan Ruofeng is seventh-grade. How could Mu Chen be worse? That means he must be eighth-grade!"

Xin Ruge gave a dry laugh. "I see, so that's how it is."

Ye Shi nodded seriously. "That's right. Mu Chen is amazing."

"He's amazing, and you're amazing too," Jing Chiyan suddenly stormed in angrily.

Ye Shi stood up and greeted, "Master."

Jing Chiyan glared. "Disciple, can you be a little more motivated? You've gotten lazy!"

"That's nonsense! That brat Mu Chen lazes around all day and is already a nine-star martial artist. You're only five stars and still think you're hardworking?" he snapped.

Ye Shi lowered his head and mumbled, "I'll be six stars soon…"

He had been fusing flame talismans daily, and each fusion gave a power boost. Though the effects were weakening, with over a dozen talismans, he should be able to break through.

"Six stars, huh? That brat Mu Chen is nine!" Jing Chiyan barked.

Ye Shi pouted. "Master, why do you keep calling Mu Chen a brat? Isn't he my fiancé?"

"He is a brat. And since he's your fiancé, that makes you a brat too!"

Ye Shi stared resentfully at him.

"What are you looking at? If you slack off, Mu Chen might ditch you and find someone stronger!" Jing Chiyan shouted.

Ye Shi's eyes flickered. "You're right, Master. I have to work harder, or I'll get left behind."

Jing Chiyan trembled in rage.

Xin Ruge raised an eyebrow, watching with great amusement.

---

I noticed that in some parts it is written Jing Chiyan and in some parts Jing Zhiyan.However they are the same person, Ye Shu's master.