CH 9

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Translator: Amber.es | Editor: Bubbles | Proofreader: musk

When Ji Chaoyun returned to Dengyun Tower, the night was already dark. He pressed a hand to his sore neck and stepped into the warm pavilion. His footsteps paused.

Right next to the table facing the door of the warm pavilion, a figure was sitting behind it, already asleep.

It was Feng Qi.

Feng Qi held a few scrolls in his hand, while his right hand propped his forehead up, his eyes peacefully shut. It seemed that he was deep in sleep, not even noticing Ji Chaoyun when he entered.

This was a rare thing.

Feng Qi innately had a talented background, never placing cultivation in his eyes. Ji Chaoyun had almost never seen Feng Qi come here to read a book these days when he stayed in Dengyun Tower, let alone read one at night.

Was the sun rising from the west today?

Ji Chaoyun stood rooted outside the door for a long time, but he did not leave.

He had to agree that Feng Qi, in a deep sleep, looked rather similar to what he remembered. After spending so many days together, Ji Chaoyun was almost certain that Feng Qi was not the person he knew. But now that he saw this person’s appearance, he still couldn’t help but feel a little despondent.

The night breeze was cool, blowing into the warm pavilion through the open windows. Feng Qi frowned in his sleep, and murmured unconsciously, as if sleeping a little uncomfortably.

The immortal body would naturally not get sick after sleeping like this, but it wouldn’t be too comfortable. Ji Chaoyun thought for a while, then carefully stepped into the inner room, took an outer robe and walked to Feng Qi’s side.

They were clearly not the same person, but their looks were so similar, he was afraid it could only be explained by blood.

Since it was connected by blood…

It was understandable that he took care of this person.

Thinking like this, Ji Chaoyun knelt down beside Feng Qi and raised his hand to lay the robe on him. Under the setting sun’s rays, he saw Feng Qi trembling as he forced himself to stifle a smile.

Ji Chaoyun: “…”

It seemed that some people didn’t need his care.

The psychological construction he had just completed fell apart in an instant. Ji Chaoyun gently rubbed his fingers and an imperceptible light glowed from his fingertips.

The next instance, a tiny bean, invisible to ordinary people, flew from nowhere, flapping its wings silently as it approached Feng Qi’s side profile. Just when the little insect was about to touch him, Feng Qi suddenly raised his hand and caught it.

Feng Qi twirled his fingers. The bug disappeared into a blue smoke. He angrily asked, “Why are you letting bugs bite me?”

“Then why are you pretending to sleep here?” Ji Chaoyun’s expression was faint. “Your Highness seems idle. If you are bored and do not wish to sleep, you might as well organize the scriptures with me, thus finishing faster.”

“What time is it, tidying up…” Feng Qi silently swallowed back a swear word. He paused and asked again, “Why did you return only now?”

He thought Ji Chaoyun would find him after evening class was over, and waited in Dengyun Tower all night by himself. Who knew that the person didn’t come until he fell asleep. Only when Ji Chaoyun passed the boundary was he awakened.

His Second Highness Feng had been stood up all night, and he was almost bitten by an insect. His current mood was extremely bad. But still, there was a person who didn’t understand his feelings, not realising why he was sulking.

Ji Chaoyun looked at him questionably. “Do I still need to report to you where I am going?”

Feng Qi confidently stated, “You are now my person from Dengyun Tower. Shouldn’t you report to me?”

“…” Ji Chaoyun pressed down on his anger. He picked up a few scriptures that fell on the ground. “I have been at the Swordplay Arena tonight.”

Feng Qi understood. “Still practicing on how to deal with the stone figures?”

Ji Chaoyun paused. “How did you know?”

“Every time a freshman enrolls in college, they practice for it. Of course I’d know.” Feng Qi glanced at him, pretending to adjust his lapel. “Obviously, I haven’t practiced it.”

Ji Chaoyun let out a cold “Oh”. The books were sorted and stacked, and then he went to the wooden stand on the side to arrange the brushes and inks.

Feng Qi supported his chin and watched Ji Chaoyun walking to and fro, being busy. He couldn’t help but ask, “You have nothing to ask me?”

Ji Chaoyun looked back at him: “Ask what?”

“…”

Feng Qi raised his eyebrows, then heard Ji Chaoyun say, “Your Highness, do move your foot. You are stepping on a book.”

Feng Qi: “…”

Feng Qi was so angry that he wanted to beat people up. If it wasn’t for the old man Tianshu’s request, would the other still have a chance to stay here?

He snapped up the book by his feet and threw it in front of Ji Chaoyun, purposely making things difficult as he said, “Still disliking me? Let me tell you, I am here to monitor your progress. With your dilly-dallying, it seems like it can only be done in the next few years.”

Ji Chaoyun didn’t lift his head, quietly stating, “No less than three months. It should be completed before the quarterly exam.”

“…” Feng Qi choked on that sentence, feeling as if he was punching into cotton with a fist—couldn’t stand nor could he sit. In the end, he walked away with a cold snort.

Waiting until Feng Qi’s figure had disappeared beyond the warm pavilion, Ji Chaoyun raised his head and frowned, puzzled. “How did the Phoenix clan have someone like him as a descendant, talking nonsense all day, and acting so weird…”

.

The next day, at the Swordplay Arena.

The sword in Ji Chaoyun’s hand struck a sharp shadow, hitting the stone target’s heart. The dust settled, leaving only a shallow dent at the spot he’d pierced.

“Still not working.” Ji Chaoyun put away his sword and took a half step back.

The stone figure’s attacks stopped, and Ye Chenxing and Bei Ran, who were holding the stone man’s hands, took the opportunity to escape.

The three of them exited the attack range, and the dent at the stone figure’s heart was quickly restored.

Ji Chaoyun said, “Two attacks at the same time can indeed contain the stone man’s strikes. But the stone heart is extremely tenacious, and it can’t be hurt by merely one person. I think it’s better to change it back…”

“It won’t work even if you change it back.” Ye Chenxing wiped the sweat off his forehead, and said, “You are the only one among us who can restrict the stone figure. You have the highest martial arts skills, but doing so will consume a lot of your spiritual energy. We can’t hold on for too long either.”

He raised his eyes and looked into the distance. So far, no team had successfully defeated and dispersed the stone heart, but most of them had found a solution.

Ji Chaoyun flashed a spell in his hand, putting away the stone man. He replied, “I’ll go to the Jing Pavilion to look up some classics and see if there is any book that tells a way to crack the stone man array.”

Ye Chenxing nodded. “Alright, let’s go together. Bei Ran, how about you?”

“I’ll listen to you.”

They passed through the Swordplay Area while talking. Suddenly, a thin figure hurriedly ran from a distance, as if not noticing the trio, and knocked against Ji Chaoyun.

This person’s build was almost the same as Ji Chaoyun who was hit by him, and almost couldn’t stand firmly. Fortunately, Ye Chenxing helped him. Ji Chaoyun barely stabilized his figure and raised his eyes to see that it was the little disciple who was originally in their team, Qi Xuan.

Qi Xuan enrolled with them, and was helped by Ji Chaoyun during his trial at Hongmeng Mountain.

Ye Chenxing’s expression sank as soon as he saw him, unhappily saying, “Don’t you have eyes?”

“Sor-sorry. I didn’t mean it…” Qi Xuan looked very nervous and flinched in fear.

“It’s okay.” Ji Chaoyun patted Ye Chenxing’s shoulder, bent down to pick up the sword that Qi Xuan dropped on the ground. He handed it back. “Be careful next time.”

Qi Xuan said nothing, quickly grabbed the sword and ran away.

Ye Chenxing shook his head and sighed. “That means you have a good temper and don’t want to care about it. For these people who see profit and forgets morality, I’ll give them a beating the moment I see them.”

Ji Chaoyun: “Better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Do you not think we have enough enemies in the academy?”

“What trouble are they, simply currying favours. I’m too lazy to bother with them,” Ye Chenxing said. “Let’s go. If the evening classes end early, I will invite you for a drink.”

Bei Ran whispered, “But the rules don’t allow…”

Ye Chenxing glanced at him warningly, and Bei Ran timely shut his mouth.

Ji Chaoyun saw their reaction and smiled. He shook his head. “Everyone has worked hard these few days. Drink if you want. At worst, let us just be punished for copying scriptures together.”

The three of them left the swordplay area, laughing as they talked. But they didn’t notice Qi Xuan, who had just ran away, looking back at them, and walking straight into the woods on the other side of the arena.

In the woods, someone had been waiting quietly.

Xu Zixing smiled at him and asked, “Have you got the things?”

Qi Xuan’s gaze dodged, and he whispered, “Xu shixiong, are we really going to…”

Xu Zixing: “Don’t continue your nonsense. Do you still want to pass the assessment?”

“I…”

Qi Xuan hesitated for a moment. He made up his mind, reached into his sleeve, took out something and gave it to Xu Zixing.

It was a purse with a light gold phoenix pattern embroidered on it.

The author has something to say:

When the students are conscientious in doing things, we also know, writing to create trouble, attacking inside the novels.