Chapter 94: Chu Feng, do you know what time it is? Why aren't you asleep yet!
Inside the side room.
Elder Bing felt an unprecedented sense of embarrassment. She had rushed back from the Heavenly Spirit Institute in a flurry just to continue secretly observing the cultivation of the people in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
But the moment she heard that Xiao Chen was going into seclusion, she was completely stunned.
'This elder hasn't even learned the essence of the Taiji Sword yet, and now you're going into seclusion? Where am I supposed to—no, observe—your Taiji Sword technique?'
In her panic, she accidentally made a noise, which was unfortunately heard by those outside.
'Could it be that they've discovered what I was up to earlier?'
'If they found out, wouldn't I be completely humiliated?'
'Forget it—let's see how Chu Feng handles this first.' She pricked up her ears, listening intently to the movement outside.
In the courtyard.
Chu Feng, clearly annoyed, said, "Da Qian, stay in character. You're supposed to be a spoiled brat, not a riddle-spewer. Can't you just speak plainly?"
Cao Youqian replied with a helpless expression, "Master, I am a spoiled brat, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm brainless. Don't tell me you've forgotten the bet you made with someone earlier?"
Chu Feng's expression shifted into one of contemplation. Soon, a figure flashed through his mind.
"If you hadn't said anything, I really would've forgotten. I've been living alone for so long that I didn't even notice there was someone extra in the courtyard."
Silence.
All the disciples simultaneously wore expressions that said: Master, we don't know how to respond to that.
Cao Youqian even secretly gave his master a thumbs-up.
He'd often heard that the best way to insult someone wasn't to hit or curse them—but to ignore them completely.
And in just one month, their master had demonstrated to them what it meant to ignore someone without leaving a trace.
Chu Feng wasn't going to make things difficult for the disciples. He smiled and turned toward Elder Bing's room, saying, "Elder Bing, my apologies—I completely forgot you were here. If you don't mind, why not join us for a drink?"
"Hmph!"
The only reply from within was a cold snort.
Earlier, Elder Bing had been thoroughly flustered, but now she was burning with fury. Her face flushed red, and she clenched her molars tightly. A thin layer of frost began forming in the room.
Humiliation—Chu Feng was clearly humiliating her on purpose.
She refused to believe that anyone in the entire Wendao Academy could ignore the presence of an elder from the Heavenly Spirit Institute.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Chief Chu, but I do not partake in worldly grains."
"Very well, then."
Naturally, Chu Feng had no intention of pushing his warm face against her cold behind. He had simply wanted to put that arrogant Elder Bing in her place.
It was just that, with so many matters to handle upon returning, he'd genuinely forgotten about her.
'This is what happens when you're single for too long—you get used to it.'
He picked up his chopsticks again. "Let's keep eating, keep drinking."
"Alright."
Everyone responded in unison, and the courtyard once again burst into liveliness.
Human joys and sorrows do not align.
After her initial rage faded, Elder Bing began to contemplate how to obtain the Taiji Sword technique from the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
There was less than a year left before the Inner Institute and True Disciple Tournament.
If she waited for Xiao Chen to finish several months of secluded cultivation, even if she managed to comprehend the essence of the Taiji Sword and taught it to her disciples, they wouldn't be able to master it in time for the competition.
'Am I really going to have to ask that brat Chu Feng for guidance?'
'No way—this elder will never stoop to compromise with that guy.'
Wait.
A sudden thought flashed through Elder Bing's mind.
The Taiji Sword technique couldn't have come out of nowhere—so it must be recorded somewhere in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute's library.
Once that bastard Chu Feng goes to sleep tonight, she would head to the library and search for that technique herself.
With her intelligence and aptitude, just seeing the manual would be enough—she'd surely comprehend the Taiji Sword essence within a month.
After the small banquet ended,
the disciples all returned to their respective courtyards to rest.
Chu Feng glanced at the side room where Elder Bing was staying. He wanted to say something but ultimately chose to return to his room and continue reading and studying.
Night fell.
Elder Bing cautiously used her spiritual sense to scan Chu Feng's room. Only after confirming the light had gone out did she make her move.
She didn't dare disturb that guy—if she got caught, it would be utterly humiliating.
Time ticked by, second by second.
Tonight, Chu Feng had picked up a highly artistic romantic novel and was so engrossed in it that he completely lost track of time.
In the neighboring room,
Elder Bing grew increasingly anxious as she saw the light in Chu Feng's room refuse to go out.
'Chu Feng, why aren't you asleep yet? Do you even know what time it is now?'
As dawn approached, Chu Feng finally began to feel a bit tired. With a casual wave of his hand, he extinguished the candlelight and drifted off into a pleasant sleep.
'Finally asleep.'
Though Elder Bing was annoyed, she still stuck to her original plan and made her way toward the library.
The Miscellaneous Dao Institute's library was a pagoda located on a separate mountain peak.
Elder Bing wasn't familiar with the institute's layout. After stepping out, she immediately used her spiritual sense to locate the library.
Before long, her spiritual sense caught sight of the three words "Library Pavilion."
Without hesitation, she flew through the air toward it. In the blink of an eye, she arrived at the mountain where the library was located.
But as soon as she landed, she froze in shock—there was a burly figure practicing martial arts right in front of the library.
'When did this little brat get here?'
Cao Youqian was just as stunned to see Elder Bing. Since the elder had arrived at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, she had never shown herself in public. Why was their first encounter like this?
He stopped what he was doing and respectfully greeted her. "Disciple Cao Youqian greets Elder Bing."
"No need for formalities."
Although Elder Bing was filled with doubt, she still asked, "Why are you here?"
'Shouldn't I be asking you that?'
Cao Youqian was inwardly puzzled and frustrated, but still replied, "This disciple was just practicing some basic martial techniques. The noise was getting a bit too loud, so I came here looking for a quieter place. Without realizing it, I ended up here. Elder, are you out for some fresh air?"
"..."
Elder Bing was silent for a few seconds. She hadn't expected even luck to turn against her tonight.
"That's right. I wanted to see what kind of resources the Miscellaneous Dao Institute has. But tell me, you're an inner disciple of Wendao Academy and quite strong—why are you practicing such basic techniques?"
"Heh heh."
Cao Youqian gave an awkward chuckle. "My comprehension is pretty poor, so Master told me to practice more and try to get the feel for it.
In his words, 'Practice your fists a hundred times, and the meaning will naturally emerge.'"
"There's some truth to that."
Elder Bing muttered under her breath. It felt like she had grasped something important, yet she couldn't quite remember what it was.
'Damn it, this kid really is just like Chu Feng said—always talking in riddles. Can't he just say it plainly?'
"You go ahead and continue your training. I'm going to look around elsewhere."
"Take care, Elder."
After watching Elder Bing leave, Cao Youqian resumed practicing his martial arts, not giving the earlier encounter another thought…
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