Chapter 65: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!
Since that incident with the red-haired dude, I have come to the cafeteria at random hours, avoiding the times when the other guy was around.
I sipped my tea and smiled at the empty dining hall.
Two weeks had passed since the entrance exams, and the newcomers had arrived. With them came an entire library, but the second floor remained deserted, as usual.
Thankfully, I hadn't spotted the red-haired guy in the library either. Perhaps because I spent most of my time on the second floor, I was unlikely to run into him there.
"Did you hear that Hu Jin recently got into a fight with an elder's personal disciple?" Yang Cho asked, indicating he was well-versed in outer sect gossip. "He's been the only troublemaker lately. There's also a rumor that he intervened when outer elder Xi's son harassed a young disciple."
Who was Elder Xi, anyway? He was probably a minor elder with connections to the inner sect. Knowing Hu Jin, this conflict would escalate, and Elder Xi likely had connections with another guy in the inner sect.
I shrugged, glancing at Yang Cho, who had noticeably gained weight in the past two weeks. It seemed he was struggling to put on weight as quickly as before.
Afterward, I swiftly returned the plates and went to the library. Meanwhile, Yang Cho went off to do whatever he did when not with me, which, given his vast knowledge about whatever happened in the sect, was probably just gossiping with others.
As I passed them, the old man was chatting with the librarian and waved at me. Stepping onto the second floor, my attention was immediately drawn to Speedy, the wandering turtle.
Considering how much time I spent there, Speedy had become a permanent resident on the second floor.
My recent breakthrough to nine-star Body Tempering made the training more relaxed. For now, my focus lies on sensing and understanding Qi.
I settled onto the hard wooden floor, assuming a meditative posture. Sensing the Qi around me came naturally, but detecting it within myself proved challenging. However, I noticed a subtle warmth, which I presumed to be my own Qi. It felt distinctly different from the Qi of others or the Qi that permeated the world around me.
Yet, moving my own Qi remained elusive.
Perhaps seeking advice from the librarian would be wise. He had likely navigated similar experiences and could offer valuable insights.
As I climbed down the stairs, the scent of alcohol greeted me as I stepped beyond the array barring entry to the second floor. Another individual engaged in conversation with the librarian and the old man. His disheveled dark hair, scruffy beard, and dark robe marked him as an inner elder.
Normally, I might have retreated and returned later, but with the librarian present and Song Song's unspoken protection, there seemed no need to avoid potential threats. It would only have wasted time.
"Liu Feng, come and greet Inner Elder Cao Ruogang," the librarian called.
I nodded and approached, respectfully bowing towards the elder and clasping my fist to his palm. "Disciple Liu Feng greets Honorable Inner Elder Ruogang."
"No need to be so formal," the elder smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder and straightening my posture. "I remember you from the incident involving the imprisonment of returning disciples to the Sect. You were always the quiet one."
Uncertain how to respond, I recalled his behavior while intoxicated during that time. Though he appeared less inebriated now, the smell of alcohol emanating from him did little to instill confidence.n0ve(l)bi(n.)co/m
"I came here to personally thank you for helping my daughter," he said, his smile tinged with gratitude. However, a glint in his eyes unsettled me. "Cao Wu, come out here!"
A young girl emerged from the shelves, carrying a couple of books. With a bob cut reaching her shoulders, she stood nearly as tall as me. Her callused hands testified to her training efforts.
Though appearing more composed and less desperate, it was evident she was the girl I had rescued from the jade-like beauty. The name confirmation helped; memorizing her features hadn't been a priority when fleeing for our lives.
Glancing at the librarian, he gave me a subtle nod. While I couldn't decipher political machinations, it was evident he was establishing connections with the inner elders.
Whatever his intentions, he could handle the scheming and politics. He wielded almost absolute authority over me as my teacher, though he rarely exercised it.
"Sure, let's go to dinner," I said, breaking the somber atmosphere.
"Your teacher mentioned you're a nine-star Body Tempering practitioner," the elder remarked with a smile. "I know a place where they serve a monstrous beast steak infused with dense Qi. Eating it can aid in Qi sensing and strengthen your foundations."
Monstrous beast meat? That sounded like a culinary experience worth trying at least once. Moreover, the intoxicated elder seemed genuinely excited about it, so it was bound to be good. However, I doubted it would offer much benefit to someone who could already sense Qi.
I felt secure with the librarian's assurance, regardless of the elder's apparent instability. Exiting the library tower, the drunkard waved his hand, conjuring a giant leaf in an instant.
The leaf gently descended to our feet, and the elder climbed aboard, motioning for us to follow. A warm Qi current enveloped us in an invisible sphere, and in the next moment, we were propelled forward, the sect grounds below blurring into a rapid motion.
Before I could discern our destination, the leaf slowed and stopped at a wallthough not the outer wall, as it was much smaller. The drunkard extended his hand, causing a ripple in the barrier. As we passed through, a tingling sensation coursed through my body, leaving me feeling exposed.
Was this some kind of high-level array performing security checks? It was too intricate for me to decipher.
Once again, the surroundings blurred as we sped toward our destination, likely at speeds only the intoxicated driver could perceive. Despite the potential danger, Cao Wu seemed at ease, stealing glances at me every so often, only to avert her gaze when I returned it.
Approaching one of the many pavilions in the inner sect, we disembarked from the leaf, which vanished instantlylikely stowed away in the drunkard's storage ring.
"Come on, I have a table reserved for us," Cao Ruogang said, his previous hostility nowhere in sight.
It felt more unsettling when he concealed his intentions. An adversary whose motives I couldn't discern was far more dangerous than one who wore their heart on their sleeve, constantly revealing their intentions.
Upon entering the pavilion, I immediately noticed that the interior appeared larger than the exterior, which was somewhat disorienting. The first floor buzzed with inner disciples engaged in conversation and celebration, creating an atmosphere vastly different from the dining hall.
We only stayed there for a short time and climbed up to the second floor, which was much quieter than the first and had fewer people.
Ascending to the third floor, Cao Ruogang gestured towards a table with a view of the inner sect, its grandeur spread before us. Here, black-robed elders populated the space, our presence drawing no more than passing glances.
Unlike the traditional tables where sitting on the ground was customary, our table stood high, offering a different dining experience.
As we settled into our seats, a disturbance in the Qi around us heralded the arrival of a young waiter, no older than his mid-twenties, sporting a polite customer service demeanor.
It was the second time I had encountered that soul-sucking smile in this world. Seemingly, grueling jobs with difficult bosses were a universal experience.
"I've already placed our orders," the drunkard stated sharply, a hint of irritation in his voice.
The waiter nodded hastily, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow. "Yes, of course. I'll bring your orders right away. My apologies for any inconvenience."
As the waiter scurried off, Cao Wu turned to her father, narrowing her eyes as if cautioning him.
Ah, what a relaxing meal this promised to be... but it wasn't. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
Glancing at Cao Wu, she looked embarrassed and silently mouthed an apologetic "sorry."
