Since that incident with the red-haired dude, I came 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 laid 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 my 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.

"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.

"I apologize if we've interrupted your study session. I didn't have much to go on to find you," Cao Wu chuckled awkwardly.

I smiled, attempting to alleviate the tension. "Don't worry. Although I must say, the blue uniform suits you better."

It appeared she had returned to the inner sect after the incident, hopefully realizing that trivial matters like pride shouldn't hinder one's quest for strength. A prideful corpse was no different from any other.

"Excuse me," her father, the inner elder, suddenly interjected, his 'friendly' smile faltering. "What are your intentions with my daughter?"

What? We were just talking.

As he began to advance, the librarian coughed, causing Cao Ruogang to halt. His smile gave way to a frown, his gaze fixed on me, exuding intimidation.

"Dad!" the girl exclaimed, breaking her father's trance. His friendly smile returned, but Cao Wu persisted, "Could you please refrain from this behavior in front of the man who saved my life? It's embarrassing and shameful! Do you know how hard he fought to rescue me? He even distracted a Qi Gathering disciple for me. He was willing to sacrifice his life!"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Her impassioned speech sent shivers down my spine, though she was presuming a bit too much. If I had known the trouble helping her would entail, I might have turned a blind eye.

The elder clasped my hand with unnecessary force, shaking it vigorously. "I was just joking..."

His strained smile returned, but it quickly faltered, and he took a deep breath in an attempt to regain composure. Despite his effort, the scent of alcohol lingered, but I maintained a neutral expression and a friendly smile.

"Although, isn't it rather suspicious how someone who barely knew you was willing to risk his life for you?" he muttered through gritted teeth, veins bulging along his face as if his smile strained him. "If I were a more suspicious man and didn't trust my daughter's words, I might assume you were acquainted before this incident. And if this person were a..." He paused, coughing and paling slightly. "A lover... that would make sense-"

"Dad, please stop embarrassing me!" Cao Wu scolded, her eyes misting over as her face flushed crimson. She turned to me, bowing her head. "I apologize. I thought he would behave better."

"No, it's fine," I replied, although I definitely minded. Yet, there was little I could do about it.

It felt like watching a comedic act unfold, albeit one where I needed to stay cautious and remain within the librarian's vicinity to prevent any impulsive actions from the intoxicated elder.

"Honey, it's just playful banter, hahaha," the drunkard elder chuckled. "I assure you, I've changed. I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since you left."

That was undoubtedly a lie. The guy's alcohol-laden breath betrayed him, and I distinctly remembered him drinking as the prison overseer... or guard? Whatever his role had been back then.

Regardless, I wisely kept silent on the matter. Cao Wu probably noticed her father's unmistakable scent of alcohol. It was not the aroma of someone who had abstained for years.

"Well, my father meant to say that we would like to invite you to dinner as a gesture of gratitude. Additionally, if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll do my utmost to assist you. I understand that my assistance may seem insignificant compared to Song Song's support. Still, it's the least I can offer," she continued, bowing her head. "Also, thank you for saving me. I may never be able to fully repay this debt, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you..."

She hiccuped and appeared on the verge of tears.

Despite the trouble her rescue had caused me—being pursued by Ye An like a rabid dog, her attempts on my life—seeing someone genuinely thankful for saving their life somehow made it all feel worthwhile.

Even her father, who had seemed ready to explode moments ago, now appeared calm, scratching his ruffled hair. "I apologize... and thank you for saving her life. I dread to think what would have happened if she hadn't survived."

He no longer exuded any hint of hostility. However, it was uncertain whether he had truly set it aside or merely momentarily forgotten amidst concern for his daughter's safety.

Still, the dinner invitation...

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 wall—though 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 instantly—likely 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."