Chapter 0: Understanding
The next morning, the scorching sun pierced through the thin mist. Qin Gou, Chi Yu, and Chen Keshua, three acquaintances, headed to the mess hall together. Even Qin Gou noticed that the once tall and mighty Chi Yu had become noticeably shorter, almost the same height as the stout Chen Keshua. It wouldn’t be surprising if he transformed into a female body in the next second, with Chi Yuchao’s consciousness taking over.
While eating, Chen Keshua was engrossed in his food, and Chi Yu was lost in thought. Only Qin Gou noticed that the gazes of the surrounding Mystic Maiden Palace disciples towards them, the outsiders, were vastly different from yesterday. Their eyes darted with intense fervor, as if they were a pack of wolves observing their prey. Such a look, if seen in the outside world, would typically be that of a pervert eyeing a beauty. However, in the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, the roles were reversed, and the heavens and earth seemed to have been turned upside down.
“Hey, red-haired shorty,” a fiery-red clad maiden rose from her seat and approached Chi Yu, hands on her hips, speaking with an arrogant air. “I, Yan Huixue of the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, wish to have a fair contest with you. Do you dare accept?”
Chi Yu glanced at her and coldly replied, “I’m in a bad mood today. Don’t bother me.”
Chen Keshua, with a smile, said amiably, “Esteemed elder sister, it’s mealtime. My elder brother Chi Yu hasn’t finished eating yet. Perhaps we could choose another time…”
Before Chen Keshua could finish his sentence, a loud “bang” was heard. Yan Huixue kicked over the table in front of Qin Gou and the others, spilling delicious dishes all over the floor. Her delicate foot then landed on a plate, and she sneered, “Eating? Continue eating, but on your knees. Eat until it’s all gone.”
“Senior Sister Yan is so cool!”
“Teach these arrogant men a lesson!”
Many of the surrounding Mystic Maiden Palace disciples began to egg them on, enjoying the spectacle.
“Eh? How can you do that? I haven’t eaten enough yet,” Chen Keshua said with a pained expression, though his eyes held no trace of fear. After all, having followed Qin Gou for so long, he was no longer the naive bumpkin he used to be.
Qin Gou smiled slightly. “Chi Yu, can you tolerate this?”
Chi Yu immediately stood up, his eyes chilling as he looked at Yan Huixue. “Who is this seductive vixen, so uncouth? Very well, if you seek death, I shall oblige you.”
“What did you call me?” Yan Huixue’s eyes flared with killing intent. To utter the word ‘seductress’ in the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace was a grave insult.
Chi Yu turned and walked towards an empty, deserted area, his voice cold. “Stop with the nonsense. Come and accept your death.”
“Hmph, at least you have some semblance of manhood,” Yan Huixue snorted.
“Bullshit!” Chi Yu gritted his teeth, his anger boiling. “With just that sentence, watch how I deal with you.”
Chi Yu and Yan Huixue were surrounded by a crowd of Mystic Maiden Palace disciples and the male disciples from outside. This was the first battle to erupt between the outsiders and the Mystic Maiden Palace disciples, and it drew considerable attention.
A long whip, covered in intricate patterns like a monstrouspython, materialized in Yan Huixue’s hand. This made Qin Gou think of Xiao Yan. In fact, such a long whip-type Natal Spirit Tool might be more suitable for her than her Broken Illusion Eyes, as she was rarely seen without a whip, either using it or on her way to use it.
“Crack!”
The whip swept out, slicing and chopping, emitting a piercing sound as it cut through the air. However, Chi Yu on the opposite side made no move, standing straight like a spear. He hadn’t summoned his Natal Spirit Tool, nor had he drawn any Magic Tools to defend himself.
“You’re truly courting death. You spoke so boastfully, but now, when it comes to a real fight, you’re this cowardly?” Yan Huixue taunted with a delicate laugh.
Yet, just as the whip was about to strike Chi Yu’s face, a strange, swirling white vortex suddenly appeared on his chest. A slender, jade-like arm emerged from the vortex, snake-like, and accurately caught the whip.
“What the hell is this?” Yan Huixue’s eyes widened in surprise at Chi Yu’s peculiar and strange method of defense.
With the whip held by the slender hand, it was as if Chi Yu had a third arm, appearing particularly bizarre. Chi Yu began to walk towards Yan Huixue at a leisurely pace.
“Let go!” Yan Huixue cried out, yanking the whip with all her might. Sharp barbs suddenly sprouted from the whip. The delicate, jade-like hand, in the blink of an eye, became covered in blood and retreated back into the white vortex. Instantly, it re-emerged from Chi Yu’s chest, fully healed. It then provocatively beckoned Yan Huixue with a finger.
“Little vixen, watch how this old man teaches you a lesson,” Chi Yu blurted out.
“How dare you! What did you say?!” Yan Huixue was furious, her teeth grinding.
But Chi Yu spoke again with a strange expression. “That wasn’t me who said that just now, I’m not the type… I’m going to kill you, you little vixen! You kicked over my table, and I’ll flip you over! No, no, that wasn’t what I wanted to say either…”
For a moment, Chi Yu seemed to be speaking to himself as if he had a split personality, leaving everyone bewildered. Qin Gou, however, suddenly looked serious. He glanced at Chen Keshua beside him and said, “It seems my good brother is about to make an appearance. If Chi Yu can’t end this fight quickly, it won’t be good.”
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone, Ye Qishuang, accompanied by Yi Chengying and Gu Caihe, was watching the entire scene unfold through an exquisite, half-height mirror. She parted her crimson lips and said with interest, “It’s finally starting.”
“Palace Lord,” Gu Caihe said cautiously, “Qin Yue already knows our Mystic Maiden Palace’s secret. Is it really alright?”
Ye Qishuang narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled. “It’s fine. This person now has only two possibilities: he is, or he isn’t. Regardless, he will stay. If it turns out he’s not the one this Palace Lord is looking for, then you may deal with him as you see fit.”
Gu Caihe’s pretty face flushed with excitement. She quickly replied, “Thank you, Palace Lord, for granting my wish. If this person ends up in Little Box’s hands! Little Box will do her utmost to create several children with exceptional talent for the Enlightenment True Body for the Mystic Maiden Palace.”
“Sensible,” Ye Qishuang’s praise made Gu Caihe beam as if she had eaten honey.
