Chapter 367 364- Conflict At The Southern Border (3)

//Tseth: There is an important Author's note in the chapter comments, please read it.//

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The others met up with Li Wen who they hadn’t seen in a while. They chose to enter one of the many pavilions in this part of the city and settle down.

“Welcome Young Masters and Young Lady to the Azure Dragon Pavilion. What can this servant get for you?”

A waiter quickly came up to the group as soon as they sat down.

“Quickly get me your top five dishes and bring me four jugs of wine!”

Mu Fan didn’t hesitate to order a large portion of food and wine, presumably for himself.

Lihua glared at him.

“We didn’t come here to eat.”

“What? You all didn’t but I did.”

“Bring me the same thing he’s having too.”

Tai said from the side, but after saying that he smiled awkwardly when Lihua glared at him too.

The waiter smiled broadly and replied enthusiastically.

“Right away young sirs!”

With that, the waiter quickly left.

Despite the pavilion’s illustrious-sounding name, it wasn’t that frequented by customers as could be seen by the fact that they were the only ones on the second floor at the busiest time of the day.

When the waiter returned with Mu Fan and Tai’s ten dishes and eight judges of wine, the two didn’t waste time inhaling both the food and wine.

Fei Yin shook his head at this before he turned to Jun and said.

“So, Jun, can you tell us what happened?”

Everyone turned to look at Jun waiting for an answer.

Li Wen seeing this was out of the loop, but the events before were quickly explained to him so he understood the full situation.

“This isn’t the first time you zone out like this. What were you thinking? If Mu Fan hadn’t been there we would have been too late to interfere.”

Yang Su was the one to actually reprimand Jun. Who in response lowered his head.

“I’m sorry senior brother.”

“Is that the only thing you can say? If you really haven’t recovered enough it’s really best if you sit this tournament out.”

Jun’s face tightened upon hearing that.

A little silence fell over the table, but Mu Fan suddenly spoke up.

“Hey now, nothing happened so what’s all this fuss about? Aren’t you just suggesting something stupid since we’ve already reached this point? And why are blaming Jun for being attacked, isn’t it that bastard’s fault?”

As Mu Fan’s questions flew towards Yang Su, so did the unchewed food in his mouth.

Yang Su flinched back before replying.

“I’m not blaming him, I’m just worried about him.”

“Why? Didn’t Lihua and Fei Yin check him? Fang Chen also managed to drive out the remaining bits in his meridians so he’s fully recovered from Mo Rong’s corruption miasma, you’re worrying means nothing.”

Yang Su went silent, but it was obvious he was glaring at Mu Fan from under his veil.

“Oh, you want a fight? Sure I’ll fight you.”

“Enough Mu Fan! Stop using Jun as a way to start a conflict.”

Fei Yin was the one who yelled that.

Meanwhile, Tai was hobbled up in a corner slowly munching on his food. Fang Chen had his arms folded with a calm expression, and Li Wen looked on with a bit of worry not used to their bickering.

As for Lihua, her eyes never left Jun.

Mu Fan huffed, but didn’t say anything more and only went back to eating.

Seeing the current dynamic of the group, Li Wen thought it was pretty bad. The only consolable thing he had was the fact that he didn’t sense any real hatred between any of them.

But hating each other isn’t the only thing that would break up a group.

Lihua was the one to finally spoke up. Still looking at Jun she said.

“The corruption miasma is fully forced out, but there are some lingering effects. However, that isn’t the cause of your episodes, right?”

Jun shook his head. He then released a sigh before saying.

“I guess I should come clean to everyone at this point.”

Jun gathered everyone’s attention upon saying that, however, he didn’t immediately continue and instead reached for one of Mu Fan’s wine jugs to his left and raised it above his head.

After several large gulps, Jun wiped his lips and confessed.

“Those episodes were me trying to find Master using our Karma String. I go into a dazed state when I use my ability for a prolonged period.”

The table went really quiet after Jun said those words, but everyone was collectively slapping their foreheads internally.

That’s right, Jun had the ability to sense Karma, how did they forget about this?

“So all those times you zoned out were you trying to find Master? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Tai asked.

“I didn’t want to tell anyone.”

“Why?!”

Yang Su’s chair screeched as he stood up abruptly. The table quivered under his palm that impacted it.

Jun had a way to track down Li Shen but he didn’t mention it to anyone. If they had known, maybe their search could have been centered around his ability, increasing the chance of finding Li Shen.

Not only Yang Su, Lihua and the others were a bit upset at Jun for not reminding them of his Karma ability and instead trying to search for Li Shen all on his own.

“I didn’t say anything because the results I got were the same!

"I didn’t find anything. The Karma String I had with Master was completely severed when he disappeared. No matter how hard I try I got the same results that confirmed everything we all feared.”

Jun’s hand holding the wine jug trembled a bit.

“I thought if I had revealed that I couldn't find Master using my ability, it would add to the possibility he might be dead.”

Tai hearing this lowered his head a bit.

“Master isn't dead.”

Yang Su immediately replied.

“Senior brother, do you think I wish that wasn't the case?”

Jun looked up at Yang Su and his face was torn.

“But the fact that Master hasn’t returned, and we’ve been unable to find him. I can’t help but have lingering doubts the longer this situation goes on.”

Yang Su slowly sat back down while saying.

“Doesn’t you’re Karma ability have a limit? We haven’t searched the Star Bound Continent yet or the others so there is no definite proof that Master isn’t out there. If he is, then you saw the state he was in when he allowed us to escape the Heavenly Calamity. He might not be able to return in his injured condition.”

Yang Su’s words of comfort seemed to wash away the downcast atmosphere by a bit.

At that moment, a voice was heard saying.

“It looks like I may have interrupted you Juniors at a bad time.”

Everyone turned their heads to see a middle-aged man with a large saber coming up the stairs.

As he came to the table, Lihua suddenly stood up and cupped her fists respectfully while saying.

“Greetings, Captain Kong.”

Seeing this, the others didn’t question Lihua’s actions and instead followed her lead.

While receiving their greetings, Captain Kong nodded his head while rubbing his stubbles.

“You were able to recognize me with a glance, good you did your research before coming. Tell me, which academy are you disciples a part of?”

The boys looked at each other quizzically upon hearing Captain Kong’s question. It should be obvious from their robes.

Even though they were wearing their Factions color scheme of black and white, the clear cloud design on them is a well-known signature of the Celestial Academy.

Captain Kong notice the group's confusion so he casually commented.

“The Southern Border might be a part of the Maple Continent, but we are more of a separate force with our own governance. So we don’t concern ourselves with you Mainlanders all that much. I guess you guys haven't researched that much.”

Li Wen was the first to frown at Captain Kong’s words.

To say the Southern Border was a separate force with its own governance, meant that they didn’t put the Li Royal Family in their eyes.

A Captain of the Southern Border didn’t even know how to identify the disciples from the number one Academy on the Maple Continent by their robes.

You can even pull a random low-level cultivator from off the street and ask them to state the defining signature of the Celestial Academy and they’ll immediately answer ethereal clouds.

Meanwhile, the boys were having a whiplash because of Captain Kong’s indifference to the Celestial Academy and Li Royal Family, Lihua took the initiative to respond.

“Captain Kong, we are from the Celestial Academy.”

Lihua then shot a glare at the others.

She had told them about the situation at the Southern Border before they came, but they seem to have completely forgotten her words.

Not only the Southern Border, but all four borders don't acknowledge the powers on the Mainland. Neither the six Major Clans, the Academy Alliance, nor the Li Royal Family has any influence over those four.

It wasn't because those powers don’t have the power to do so, but it was simply because they can’t. If they try to influence these borders then the border walls would ‘mysteriously’ collapse in on themselves.

​ This would result in a lack of protection from endless hoards of Sea Beasts in the vast ocean and a potential threat from the other Continents.

Despite it being blatantly obvious what these four borders were doing, the powers on the Mainland were helpless to do anything as long as there was a threat from Sea Beasts and the other Continents.

“Oh, it’s that academy again. I must admit you lot produce some outstanding geniuses every generation.”

Captain Kong then looked at Mu Fan who was busy eating a drumstick and asked.

“You, what’s you’re name?”

“Heuh? Mwe? I’em Mau Fwan.”

Mu Fan’s words were incomprehensible as his mouth was too stuffed with food.

Lihua rolled her eyes while the others wore embarrassed expressions.

Captain Kong didn’t mind, and instead smiled and said.

“With your physique and temperament, you don’t seem fit to be cooped up in some fancy academy. You belong on the battlefield. How about you join my Extermination Battalion? I will even take you in as my official disciple.”

Everyone was a bit taken aback by Captain Kong's offer, but Mu Fan instantly replied to his offer with a rejection.

"I'em nwot intedtrested."

"Swallow your food before you speak, that's disgusting."

Lihua couldn't help but comment.

Captain Kong still had on a smile despite Mu Fan's instant rejection.

"If you change your mind, my Extermination Battalion always has its doors open for you."

With that, Captain Kong abruptly turned and left.

The others sat back down, but they were still thinking about how Captain Kong acted. He showed no regard for powers on the Mainland including their Celestial Academy. To say it irked them was an understatement.

“Lihua, who was that person? He seemed to be a prominent figure here?”

Tai asked.

“That person is called Su Kong, and he’s the Captain of one of the top Battalion, the Extermination Battalion. Since the generals aren’t that active, the Captains are the ones who wield the most power at the Southern Border. You just turned down an offer most people here would kill for.”

Lihua said her last sentence while looking at Mu Fan.

While picking his teeth with a drumstick, Mu Fan replied.

“He’s only at the late-stage Core Formation Realm yet he wants me to be his disciple, isn’t he too arrogant? I'd have surpassed him in a few more years, what's the point?”

Lihua shook her head.

“You don’t know the benefits that come with that title so you can say that.”

“Benefits? What Benefits?”

“Resources.”

Lihua simply answered, and Mu Fan blinked.

“I’m a Core Disciple of the Celestial Academy and a Chosen. What amount of resources can this place provide me that I can’t get otherwise?”

This time it was Li Wen that responded.

“The four borders are said to be supplying the Mainland with 40% of its overall resources, and that’s the amount their willing to hand over.”

Not only Mu Fan, but the others also widen their eyes a bit upon hearing that.

Forty percent of all the resources on the Continent was a terrifying number. It was really hard to imagine that scale

“This shouldn’t come as a surprise. A single Sea Beast could produce precious materials to concoct alchemy pills, Spirit Artifacts, and various other things essential to cultivators. With the amount of Sea Beasts being killed on a daily basis, if even a portion of them is sold to the Mainland, each of the borders is probably sitting on an ocean of wealth and resources the powers on the Mainland can’t compare to.”

“And a Captain of one the Top Battalions of the Southern Border probably has some access to that kind of wealth and resources.”

Fei Yin was the one to finish for Lihua.

Even though they weren’t going to up and leave the Celestial Academy, and weren’t lacking any resources of their own, it was hard not to think what it would be like living and cultivating at one of the borders.

As these thoughts ran through everyone's mind, Jun suddenly said.

“That’s strange. From how it seems on the outside, this place is suffering from a lack of resources.”

Now that Jun pointed this out, it was indeed strange.

“That’s done on purpose.”

A delicate-sounding voice that seemed to have come from thin air suddenly echoed out. At the very next moment, a gust of breeze blew before a pipette-looking girl casually perched herself on Jun’s lap.

Her speed was absolutely terrifying, it seemed as if she teleported.

Everyone was startled by her sudden appearance. Jun even more so.

“Y-You are?”

Caught off guard by this girl appearing in his lap Jun stuttered slightly.

“Oh, where are my manners? I’m Ji Niu, but this handsome brother can call me sister Niu-Niu.”

The girl called Ji Niu said that in a bashful manner.

Though she suddenly leaned closer, and Jun could immediately feel two soft lumps pressed against his chest. He also got an eye full as he couldn’t help his eyes from wandering inside her slightly loose upper robes.

Jun blushed and quickly looked away, but he smile awkwardly when he saw that Ji Niu was closely staring at him.

Something told Jun this girl’s true personality wasn’t like her petite and innocent demeanor suggested.

“Oh, what’s this?”

Ji Niu said in surprise before she shifted her legs slightly.

Jun’s face suddenly changed and went to get himself out of this situation.

He held Ji Niu's shoulders to get her off his lap and stand up, but before he could, Ji Niu suddenly sent him a spiritual message.

‘If I get up now, that beautiful sister that’s been glaring at me might see you like this.’

Upon hearing that, Jun’s actions froze. A traumatic memory appeared in his mind.

After a slight deliberation, Jun reluctantly released Ji Niu’s shoulders.

Ji Niu released a giggle before she turned to everyone, purposely shifting her waist a little more than necessary in the process.

“Since I’ve introduced myself, can Niu’er know everyone’s names as well?”

Everyone wore strange expressions at this sudden situation, while Lihua’s frown deepen upon glaring at Jun.

Meanwhile, Jun’s face was completely flushed. He instinctively lowered his to hide his face, as well as to avoid Lihua’s glare. If the ground suddenly split open and swallowed him, Jun swore he definitely wouldn’t mind.

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//Tseth: Hey guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to read the author's note in the chapter comments, it's important.//