~~~

Huang Shing and Bei Hong drink freely and laugh. There is no trace of the hostility and imminent violence that had been so prominent in their interactions until just a few hours ago. Joining forces against a common foe, it seems, is a good way to put aside grudges.

Which really shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Liu Jin.

After all, the Eastern Port City Tournament was an important step in his and Xiao Fang’s relationship. Annoying as it may be to admit it, perhaps there are certain things that can only be achieved through conflict.

Conflict and victory.

“Congratulations!” Bei Hong raises his cup. His cheeks are flushed from all the alcohol. “Everyone at this table should be proud of themselves!”

After the ruckus they had caused, Liu Jin had been worried someone would try to stop them from leaving the Sparring Hall. Thankfully, that hadn’t happened. Their defeated foes had settled for glowering at their backs, letting the four of them reach the Inner Disciples’ living quarters unimpeded.

Like most buildings in the Eternal Flame Clan’s compound, it is predominantly red. Unlike the modest, almost utilitarian living quarters of the Outer Disciples, the Inner Disciples live in a mansion. Even though it is meant to house less people, the building occupies a far larger area. It has impressive golden gates, ample rooms, and a lush garden with beautiful flowers surrounds it.

Upon arriving here, they had presented their bracelets. Their names were written down, their points subtracted, and new robes issued to them.

That is all it took.

Just like that, the four of them became Inner Disciples of one of the strongest Sects in the Crimson Cloud Empire.

It is a step in the right direction. A step closer to Murong Bang and the Storm Dragon Empire. It is what Liu Jin has spent so many months preparing for. It is why he took up a new name and dyed his hair. By all means, it should be a momentous occasion for Liu Jin, but it has happened so quickly, it almost doesn’t feel real.

Never had he expected for things to be so ridiculously simple.

Perhaps that is why he is celebrating with Bei Hong and the others instead of doing something more productive with his time. The older teen had suggested it, Huang Shing had eagerly agreed, and Lu Mei had cut him off before he could say no. However, even if he had been given the chance, it is unlikely he would have rejected the invitation. That is how perplexed Liu Jin feels right now.

They are on the first floor of the Inner Disciples’ mansion. Unlike the second, third, and fourth floors, the first floor has various meeting rooms where groups can sit down and relax. These rooms can be reserved with points, and one can also use points to have food and drinks be brought over.

Since they had enough points leftover from their promotion, they had splurged a bit. Or rather, Bei Hong and Huang Shing, who had fought the most, had splurged a bit.

“Brother Bei is completely right!”

Huang Shing’s face is even more flushed than Bei Hong’s. It is almost as if he has completely forgotten he is celebrating with the person who had been a hair’s breadth away from inflicting grievous harm on him not even two days ago. Had a fight started back then, Bei Hong wouldn’t have held back.

Then again, neither would Huang Shing.

“Everyone here is amazing. Especially Brother Bei. His fourth match ended so quickly my eyes barely caught it!”

“I’m in the Third Level of the Spirit Realm! It’s expected I should be at least that strong. I’m not so frail I’ll lose to someone even one level above me, but you!” He gestures at Huang Shing with his cup. The wine spills over as it shakes. “You’re just in the Ninth Level of the Nascent Realm, but that counter in your second match? That! That was good!”

Huang Shing laughs. “No, that was nothing special. I was more impressed by Brother Bei’s finisher in his fifth match. In pure arm strength, I’m no match!”

“That was a good one, wasn’t it?” Bei Hong puffs his chest and smiles. “Still, I am saying this right now. I take back what I said earlier. You’re not trash at all!”

“I also take back all the bad things I said earlier!”

The two fools laugh loudly as they continue drinking and praising each other.

Frankly, it is a bit annoying.

“Must you look so displeased? We’re meant to be celebrating.” Lu Mei smiles at him, even as she nods in Bei Hong and Huang Shing’s direction. “You could stand to learn from those two fools. So easily pleased. If only everyone could be so simple.”

She does not bother lowering her voice. The other two are so caught up in their drinking, they’re unlikely to hear her.

“I am afraid a serious face is the only face I know how to make.”

“Hmm, I can almost believe that,” Lu Mei replies. She says it so easily Liu Jin’s eyebrow cannot help but twitch.

“It may also be that I am a bit confused as to why senior sister is suddenly willing to spend time with people who, just days ago, tainted the air by the mere act of breathing.”

Lu Mei’s motives could be as simple as trying to make it so he and Huang Shing have no choice but to side with her and Bei Hong, or it may be that there is something else at play. Regardless, her sudden change in attitude is suspicious.

“Easily changing her mind is a woman’s prerogative,” Lu Mei replies without shame. “You should be thankful for the fate that has so kindly allowed you to enjoy my attention. Many men would kill to be in your place.”

“If those men wished to trade places with me, I’d happily let them.”

“Would you, really?” Lu Mei asks, bringing her cup to her lips. Under the low lighting of the room, her golden eyes seem to glow. “Based on how we first met, you’d probably try to warn them about me. It wouldn’t work, but you’d try.”

“Wouldn’t it?”

“Of course, not. I am stunning. No man would pick your side over mine.”

“This might be the first time I have heard a woman refer to herself as stunning.”

Which is not to say she is not wrong. Liu Jin can recognize that much. Her wild hair, her intense golden eyes, her bold stance. Lu Mei’s beauty is neither elegant nor traditional. It is wild and unrestrained, but no lesser because of it. Even without her charm techniques and perfume, Lu Mei is easily one of the most beautiful girls he has ever seen.

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“Would you prefer false modesty? That is an accessory only women who are trying to lure empty-headed fools wear, and you do not seem as easily led as your friend.”

“If senior sister Lu realizes that, then would it be too much to ask for her to stop?”

The entire time.

The entire time they’ve been talking, Lu Mei has been using that Charm Technique on him.

If Liu Jin has to be honest, he finds her technique somewhat interesting. When her Qi reaches out to his, it does so in lances of pure emotion. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Lu Mei can make her Qi Lust-attuned much in the same way Liu Jin can make his Qi poison-attuned.

At first, Liu Jin thought defending himself from the technique was simply a matter of completely rejecting her Qi, but that is a substandard method for dealing with it. Instead, the best way to counter it is to allow the attack to reach him while not allowing his Qi to be disturbed by hers.

It is a good exercise.

It is really annoying.

“Oh? So you did notice.” Far from looking embarrassed or remotely remorseful at being caught, the most Lu Mei does is raise an eyebrow. “I was beginning to wonder if maybe you were a bit too young to feel such things.”

“I don’t feel you stopping, senior sister.”

“Don’t misunderstand. You looked so miserable my mood was beginning to sour. I simply had to cheer you up or risk being miserable as well. There was no choice, you see.”

“Cheering people up is what the alcohol is for.”

“Most people don’t cheat by nullifying its effects.” Lu Mei points to the two teens next to them. “You have drunk as much as they have, yet you’re still perfectly sober. How thoroughly unfair of you.”

“Should senior sister really be the one to say that to me?”

Lu Mei smiles and leans closer. “Oh?”

Liu Jin points to her cup even as he takes another sip of his. “If I’ve drunk as much as those two, the senior sister has drunk even more.”

“I could be really resistant to alcohol.”

“So could I. We both know that’s not true.”

Whatever reply Lu Mei is about to say is drowned out by the doors slamming against the wall.

“I’ve found you at last!”

A group of six enters the room, all of them Inner Disciples. Liu Jin recognizes half of them as Inner Disciples who were defeated by them just a few hours ago. The one who spoke just now, however, is not one of them. He is a tall, solidly built teen with a strong jaw and angry eyes.

He looks a lot like Bei Hong.

“At last? You make it sound as though I were hiding.” Bei Hong does not bother getting up. Instead, he grabs one of the bottles and drinks straight from it, loudly burping as he puts it down. “I don’t recall ever bothering doing something as worthless. Have your eyes rotted so much you can’t see what’s right in front of you, Bei Duyi?”

Bei. The same last name as Bei Hong. Liu Jin’s eyes flick from one to the other, taking in all their similarities.

So this is that sort of situation.

“I see you quite clearly. That you can celebrate your blunders so easily shames me to no end.” Bei Duyi shakes his head as he walks towards them, slamming his hand on their table and knocking one of the bottles to the floor. “Do you have no concept of shame? Do you think you can rampage as you please in the Eternal Flame Clan as you did in the Golden Fist Sect?!”

“Shame? What do I have to be ashamed of? I defeated a group of weaklings who called themselves Inner Disciples.” Bei Hong stands up as he speaks. “Those who stand behind you should be thankful. By serving as fodder for our progress, they have helped the Eternal Flame Clan more than they ever could have otherwise.”

“Brother Bei is right!” Huang Shing shouts, adding wood to the fire. “We’ve done nothing wrong. We followed the rules and got the points necessary to become Inner Disciples. Rather, it seems to me those sore losers behind you are now trying to hide behind someone stronger.”

A crack forms in one of the walls as the Qi of more than one person in the room rises, readying for battle.

“Hmph, I see you’ve wasted no time in finding people of your level.” Bei Duyi shoots a withering glare at the four of them, not that it has any effect. “However, you’re far too naive if you think you can do as you please here.”

“Brother Duyi is right!” One of the members of Bei Duyi’s group says. He is one of the people Liu Jin fought. “You who have just joined do not understand the duties of an Inner Disciple!”

“Oh, really?” Lu Mei says, sounding entirely too unconcerned by what is happening. “And what duties would those be?”

The disciple is about to answer when he makes the mistake of looking into Lu Mei’s eyes. His eyes glaze over before Bei Duyi puts himself between him and Lu Mei, glaring at her.

“None of that.” He glares at Lu Mei, who smiles innocently, before shifting his gaze back to Bei Hong. “For your sake, I’ll try to make things simple. Inner Disciples receive more points every month than Outer Disciples do. That is because the duties demanded of us require us to spend more points than Outer Disciples. By suddenly defeating so many of us, you four have left quite a few disciples in precarious circumstances.”

“If you have a point, get to it,” Bei Hong says. “Once again you’ve spoiled my drinking.”

His words are not the slightest bit slurred, and the flush of alcohol has long since vanished from his face. Did he use Qi to burn it off?

“I am here to make things easy for you, Bei Hong. All the people here have agreed not to hold today’s events against you if you just agree to use some of your points for their benefit. That is all.”

Bei Hong’s reply is immediate.

“Ridiculous!”

“Don’t the rules of the Sect allow us to challenge each other?” Lu Mei adds. “If losing a single spar against an Outer Disciple is enough to put you in such a dangerous situation, then you were not making good use of those points in the first place. Isn’t that right?”

She’s not wrong. Indeed, the way some of the Inner Disciples flush in shame tells Liu Jin she’s right on the mark.

He’s not about to tell her that.

“Senior Sister Lu is right!”

Huang Shing has no such problem. Much like Bei Hong, he’s already standing up, ready to fight.

“Bei Hong, I am giving you the chance to mend bridges with your fellow disciples. Will you reject my kindness?”

“Kindness? I don’t recall ever having need of such a thing.”

“This is not the Golden Fist Sect, Bei Hong.”

“That you think I’ve ever relied on that name says it all. I am now Bei Hong of the Eternal Flame Clan. If you all wish to settle this as fellow disciples, I’ll be happy to!”

Bei Hong grins as his Qi rises. Bei Duyi, though his expression does not change, matches him.

At this point, it is only a matter of who’ll throw the first blow.

“What is the meaning of this?”

The voice is loud, a bit shrill, and oddly familiar. An Inner Disciple has come to check up on them, likely attracted by the noise and rising Qi,

It is Khong Hu, the one who acted as their guide.

“What do you think you’re all doing throwing your Qi around so late at night. Fights within the building are forbidden!” Khong Hu shouts. “Why would you even…”

He trails off as he looks at the two groups. His eyes flash in recognition when he sees Liu Jin and Huang Shing.

Liu Jin gives a small wave.

He receives a flat stare in return.

“I see.” Khong Hu takes a deep breath. “Well, I suppose something like this is inevitable. It certainly seems to happen every year. However, you shall not fight here! Am I clear?”

“You presume to tell us what to do, Khong Hu?”

“Common sense presumes to tell you what to do,” Khong Hu counters, crossing his arms. “Fights inside this building are forbidden. You’ve already lost many points today. Do you wish to make things worse?”

“Of course, Brother Khong is right,” Bei Duyi says. “Fighting here was never our intention. We simply wished to offer Brother Hong a chance to make amends.”

“My fists are all the amends you’ll get out of me.”

Bei Duyi snorts. “Clearly. We’ll settle things later, Bei Hong.”

“Oh? You come here and don’t even have the guts to fight me?”

“If I beat you here, you’ll just say you’re tired from all your fights today. I don’t want to give you excuses. Rest up, Bei Hong. I don’t intend on letting you keep making a fool of yourself.”

He leaves with that parting shot, the rest of the disciples trailing after him. Khong Hu also doesn’t stay long. In fact, if the judging look he gives them is any indication, he wants nothing to do with them.

Liu Jin has been a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan for not even two days. He has been an Inner Disciple for mere hours.

Yet, somehow…

Somehow, he has fallen in with a really troublesome group.

~~~