Something big was about to happen: this many disciples wouldn’t enter the Training Hall for no reason after all, nor would they gather around the raised stone platform and chatter away like newborn chicks.
“What’s with the commotion? Is there an event on?”
“Hmm? Oh, you must not have heard. Dong Ju is going to be fighting a senior of the fifth layer today!”
“Dong Ju?”
“He’s one of the most impressive ones out of the latest batch of disciples, already at the third layer of Qi Refining.”
“How did he reach the third layer in only two months? Hmm, must be from a cultivator clan.”
“Right. He’s a branch member of the Dong clan, so he started body-refining before joining the sect. From the beginning, everyone knew he’d follow in his brother’s footsteps, but even his brother waited a year before challenging anyone two minor realms above him.”
“What about this disciple at the fifth layer of Qi Refining?”
“Uh… someone called Zhang Fei, I think. Or was it Zeng Fei? I heard from other seniors that he’s just talentless trash - he spent four years doing nothing but cultivating, yet only barely reached the fifth layer despite that.”
“So Dong Ju is expected to win?”
“Pahaha, without a doubt. Why else do you think Dong Ju would pick such a nameless person as the first person of the fifth layer to challenge? He’s building up his reputation through consecutive easy wins before moving onto worthy contenders.”
“Hey man, who are you talking to? You’ve been rambling to yourself for a while now.”
“Do you not see the senior over… here? Huh?”
“Tsk, this is why I told you to wear proper safety equipment while doing alchemy. Breathing in those fumes has made you go crazy, see.”
“…”
“I swear, next time I see you refining pills without a mask on—”
“Shut up! Look, that’s Dong Ju coming over now!”
A wave of excitement spread through the disciples as the boy of the hour made his appearance; since the outcome of the fight was a foregone conclusion, they had come to make connections with him in the first place.
Even those inside the Training Hall uninterested in the fight couldn’t help but glance over.
No one would have guessed Dong Ju was thirteen from his outward appearance, already as tall as a grown man and thick of shoulder, likely as a result of the body refining art he practised.
His lantern-jawed, fierce-eyed look gave everyone the impression a tiger had entered their midst, and the glimpse of vein-roped hands poking out from his sleeves hinted at the powerful musculature beneath the orange sect robes.
Alongside him came his lackeys, their loud voices and coarse laughter better suited to a bawdy tavern than an Immortal Sect. But it was no matter as the Elder supervising the Training Hall only ever interfered if something went wrong during a disciple’s training (and even in those rare cases, the Elder was said to correct the issue and leave without ever revealing their presence).
Dong Ju took to the raised stone platform and elegantly bowed towards the crowd.
“Fellow brothers and sisters, this Dong is humbled to see so many of you gather for my minor sparring match. As some will already know, I recently made a breakthrough in my Orange Stripes, White Teeth cultivation technique.”
There were multiple ohhs around him as they understood what he was trying to say.
“Indeed, I would have otherwise never dared to challenge a senior at the fifth layer with my paltry cultivation. It was my older brother who suggested I practise my new strength against an experienced partner, hence my challenge against Senior Brother Zeng Fei. Please forgive any inadequacies this Dong may display during the spar.”
He flashed a charming smile to ingratiate himself with the crowd.
Yet his expression gradually wilted as the arranged time for the duel came and went without his opponent making an appearance.
Even though Dong Ju remained sullen and silent, his true feelings could be gleaned through his lackeys.
“What a useless Senior Brother this Zeng Fei is! How can he give any useful pointers to Brother Dong when he can’t even show up on time?”
“Haha, too right. I wonder if our Senior Brother recognised his inability to guide Brother Dong and is in hiding right now? I always felt he was the spineless sort after all.”
“If so, how is his nonappearance any different from spitting on Brother Dong’s face? Since Brother Dong is too kind to do anything about it, how about we ferret out our cowardly Senior Brother? Teach him a lesson on honouring his promises, eh?”
Comments like these piled on until it was clear as day to everyone there that Zeng Fei should have just taken this one-time beating instead of painting a target on his back for prolonged bullying.
Moreover, any doubt that Zeng Fei had simply been running late was extinguished once a half-hour had gone by since the scheduled time.
Dong Ju grimaced, appearing moments away from calling the event off and apologising for wasting everyone’s time when a sudden development revitalised the subdued environment.
Every gaze in the Training Hall was fixed on the approaching figure.
The boy had a nimbus of black curls, and wore sect robes that looked ill-fitting on his slim body.
Those who’d previously met Zeng Fei needed a second of squinting to recognise him: although his facial structure was identical to before, the Zeng Fei they recalled had possessed far more scars, acne, and blemishes on his skin, what they would overall describe as ugly; whereas the pale boy approaching them now was merely plain-faced, somewhat handsome even in a delicate, scholarly way.
What was more eye-catching than his changed appearance, however, was his aura.
Unlike Dong Ju’s intimidating aura, Zeng Fei gave off such a faint aura that everyone inspecting him immediately dismissed him as a weakling; and yet he continued to carry his head high like an arrogant young master, unfazed by the hostile attention on him.
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Only when he got closer did one of Dong Ju’s lackeys discover the reason for his diminished aura.
“Zeng Fei, you stupid bastard! Where is your cultivation base gone? How can you be at the first layer of Qi Refining when you were at the fifth layer the other day?”
Like a pack of rabid dogs let loose, the others followed.
“The fool must have suffered qi deviation while cultivating. He’s lost everything!”
“Ai, what an embarrassment of a Senior Brother! If anything, isn’t it time he starts calling us Senior Brothers by now?”
They barked insults and howled with laughter, yet they may as well not have even been there from the way he ignored them, taking to the stone platform opposite Dong Ju.
Dong Ju bowed in Zeng Fei’s direction. “Senior Brother, I’m sorry to see you’ve faced inauspicious events.” Although Dong Ju tried to put on a sympathetic face, he couldn’t hide the sneer tugging at the sides of his lips. “Seeing as you’re now at the first layer of Qi Refining, I am perfectly content with putting aside our friendly spar.”
There were moans from the assembled disciples who’d hoped to witness his power after his recent breakthrough, but Dong Ju addressed these by raising his hands placatingly. “Please understand, my fellow brothers and sisters. It is not that I want to disappoint you, but rather that I cannot bear to bully my Senior Brother in his time of weakness.”
A loud scoff came from Zeng Fei of all people. “More like I’m no longer useful in building your reputation without my cultivation, you little shit.”
Dong Ju was momentarily stunned, before his eyes narrowed and voice fell to a threatening tone. “Senior Brother, I didn’t quite catch what you said there. Could you kindly repeat it for your junior?”
One of his lackeys joined in with cackling laughter. “Brother Dong, this fool Feng must have deliberately shattered his cultivation base to get out of fighting you!”
“Right, right,” another said. “What a craven fellow our Senior Brother is. What guidance could he possibly offer you besides on how to run away with your tail behind your back?”
Indifferent to the buzzing of flies, Zeng Fei ignored their commentary and met Dong Ju’s gaze without blinking. “Our spar will proceed as arranged… unless, of course, you wish to forfeit.”
The provocative arch of an eyebrow caused a sharp glint to pass through Dong Ju’s eyes; his square jaw looked to chew over something before setting.
“If Senior Brother insists, naturally this Dong will comply.” He bowed. “Please, Senior Brother, provide me guidance.”
Zeng Fei did not return the gesture. “My pleasure, little Dong.” He coughed and covered his smile. “Sorry, sorry. I meant Junior Dong.”
Incensed by this slight, Dong Ju raised his arms into a grappling position; his muscles bunched together and expanded, bulging through his robes.
No longer was his viciousness cloaked by polite words or spoken through his lackeys as it lay bare for all to see in his bloodthirsty expression.
Zeng Fei, meanwhile, stretched out his arm and expelled bright white mist from his palm.
The spectators blinked from the sudden blinding light. When they turned to the stone platform again, they saw that the white mist had not diffused but rather solidified into a peculiar shape.
As they watched, the light rapidly dimmed to reveal… was that an animal?
The crowd burst into noise as people tried to identify the strange creature in front of them.
Donning a silvery-grey coat, it had big, round eyes and a black head with a white mask over the top. Between four and five feet tall, it had a chubby figure and stumpy flippers for arms. Given its beak, the creature was most likely a bird, yet one unlike any they’d seen before.
While they inspected the creature, the creature inspected them too, waving its head around in curiosity.
With its cultivation at the first layer of Qi Refining, it did not appear threatening in the slightest; if anything, it looked adorable, clicking its tongue and nodding its head like it was happy to see them. Its cuteness tugged at their hearts, making the audience members want to fawn over this newborn chick.
Even Dong Ju was thrown off by the creature; confusion overlaying his face, he released his stance. “Senior Brother, what is this thing you’ve summoned?”
Every pair of eyes there congregated on Zeng Fei, wondering what he’d say…
…only to discover he was the most surprised of them all!
It took him several beats to swallow down whatever had surprised him. “You know what, whatever.” Zeng Fei pointed at his opponent. “Get him, Pingu.”
At his command, the creature followed the direction of the finger and stared at Dong Ju, who, in turn, steeled his heart to fight; although bemused, he wasn’t in the business of showing mercy against his opponents, no matter how cute and cuddly they were.
The creature began to waddle towards Dong Ju with unsteady steps.
Dong Ju, meanwhile, glanced towards Zeng Fei and gave a small nod. “While your technique is indeed novel and unfathomable, Senior Brother, don’t hold it against me for…”
As the creature was about to enter his proximity, Dong Ju compressed qi into his arm and fired a vicious blow to its head, giving off the faint image of a ferocious tiger swiping down its prey.
“…crushing your—”
Dong Ju was cut off as his vision suddenly spun sideways onto one of his lackeys stood outside the stone platform. Jaw loose and tongue hanging, Dong Ju touched his cheek, receiving a prick of smarting pain on contact.
“What the…”
Turning his head back around, his vision spun once more but this time in the opposite direction, witnessing now the stunned expression of another of his lackeys. Before Dong Ju could say a thing, there followed a sharp punch to his gut, causing him to topple over holding his stomach.
Another stinging slap followed in his downed position, and another, and another.
Every single spectator could see he’d never stood a chance - even when he’d taken the initiative in attacking, the beast’s wings had moved like lightning, resembling a snake ambushing prey.
Given the serpentine aura the beast’s wings were giving off, there was no doubt it was using a martial technique, though not one any of them recognised.
With the entire Training Hall stunned into silence, the beast’s searing slaps and Dong Ju’s woeful groans echoed, each subsequent hit causing the spectators to wince.
Like them, Zeng Fei too was caught off guard by the development: his eyebrows were raised in comic surprise and mouth drooped with shock.
But unlike them, it was for a totally different reason: a line of text had appeared in his vision.
Congratulations! Pingu’s Serpentine Slap has advanced to Level 2!
“…”
Congratulations! Pingu’s Serpentine Slap has advanced to Level 3!
Distracted by these notifications, Zeng Fei didn’t pay attention to the fight until, seconds later, his qi ran out; Pingu’s figure grew hazy, then dissolved into a white mist that returned to his body.
Suddenly reminded he was in the middle of a fight, Zeng Fei glanced up at his opponent’s state.
Dong Ju was curled into a ball, the blood spattered over the stone tiles revealing how vicious the beating had been.
As quiet descended over the surroundings, you could hear Dong Ju’s low sobbing.
To anyone with eyes, it was obvious how Zeng Fei had not been content with simply winning and had wanted to thoroughly humiliate Dong Ju; there was no question of his cruelty or his vindictiveness.
As this realisation pressed down on Zeng Fei, he felt the world close in around him. What were the chances that anyone here would believe him now if he claimed to have been distracted and simply forgotten to recall the overeager penguin?
Well, fuck...
****
No one tried to stop Zeng Fei as he ran out of the Training Hall; instead, they rushed to get out of his way, fearful that they too would otherwise receive his wrath.
There was only one person who acted contrary to this: a strange disciple with long white hair stood by the Training Hall entrance did not seem in the slightest inclined to move for the sprinting Zeng Fei.
Given how gaunt and shadowed this disciple’s face was, it seemed unlikely they’d ever get back up if someone were to run into them.
To avoid this, Zeng Fei was forced to side-step the disciple to pass by.
And while doing so, he didn’t notice how the white-haired individual patted him on the back, a soft and swift touch, nor did he notice the blue Scrying Sprite this gentle touch attached to his body.
It followed that he also failed to notice how the sprite’s carefree expression turned ghastly almost immediately; before a full second was through, the sprite had spontaneously combusted out of existence.
The white-haired individual, however, did notice. They appeared expressionless for a long moment, before the slightest of smiles curved their lips.
“Interesting.”