Hey people. Drama and utter shamelessness inbound! Enjoy the chapter!

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Soon after he bowed to the palace, he traveled back to the location of his comrades. While he was coming back the situation there was quite chaotic. The mercenaries were all chatting explosively about the events that had transpired just a few moments ago. They were thoroughly excited and many could hardly forget the scene.

"Did you see the fires on that bird? They were so hot I felt as if my face was going to be burnt just from the pressure!"

"Yeah. But those fires were nothing in comparison to that awesome snake! It was so powerful. With a single spear attack, it was capable of completely dominating the fight!"

"I remember how that kid Qiu Yun talked back to the Scarlet Phoenix! He actually dared to call him a turkey!"

"I wonder who that kid is to actually say such things without any fear!"

While everyone else was discussing about the fight happily, only two figures were silent with solemn expressions. They were Zhou Yanling and Elder Zhou. Zhou Yanling was currently gritting her teeth in anger. Elder Zhou was silent but his white hair was slightly disheveled. 

"That little bastard appears to have a lot of luck. For a scenario like this to happen, did he steal luck from the heavens?" 

"Yanling, do not worry. Even if he has not died yet, he will. Even if that Great Devil Ape helped him before, he shouldn't have the same luck with the snake. It is highly likely that the beast will kill him." Elder Zhou consoled her. He had an evil smile on his face that showed his confidence. Zhou Yanling mirrored the expression. Together they looked like a couple of scheming thieves.

"You're right Grandpa. He ill surely die. After all, father told me that the temperament of higher realm beasts is quite eccentric. Often times, they will kill indiscriminately without a regret, and for no reason. There is a high chance that the brat is dead!" She rejoiced in her heart at the misfortune that had befallen Feng Yun.

"Exactly. Plus, we had nothing to do with the death so if his backers come to check it out, we will not be suspected" They both nodded their heads. This was good. However, Zhou Yanling suddenly paled at a certain thought.

"What about father's Truth Artifact?"

"Ah yes, that. I will try to soften your punishment but knowing your father, he won't do too much. You are his daughter and he dotes on you heavily." Suddenly, a large commotion spread throughout the crowd. People were pointing at a hill in the distance not too far away. Whispers spread throughout the crowd. A black shadow was moving calmly and slowly as it appeared over the hill, getting larger and larger with each step. Xia Qing stood out from the crowd, her look of puzzlement changing to excitement and relief. Zhou Yanling and Elder Zhou moved forward as well. Zhou Yanling squinted her eyes at the black figure and shock was present.

"Grandpa, is that guy...possibly...no way. He shouldn't be alive. I thought higher realm beasts didn't have any regard for humans! Why the hell is he there?" Sure enough, Feng Yun was walking towards them a bright smile on his face. He looked as if he had encountered something pleasant. His figure gradually became more clear to the mercenaries as he passed on. They all reeled back in shock and delight. They truly hadn't expected that he would come back, and in an uninjured state as well!

"Yo! You guys look like you're doing well!" Feng Yun cheerfully said. They all heard it and tremors ran through the crowd. Dong Fuzhen emerged and had a friendly smile on his face.

"Same to you! What the hell happened out there!"

"Nothing much. Just a fortuitous encounter!"

Feng Yun was surrounded by numerous people soon after and bombarded by questions pertaining to what happened after he was dragged out of the battlefield. He of course didn't answer any of them and chose to keep the matter of him being apprenticed to Dai Tian a secret. The only person he would tell it to besides him would be Xia Qing. Thinking about the matter, his heart slightly ached. He would have to leave her alone by herself in the Holy Continental Academy with no one to call friend. He shook his head and decided to not think about it.

He eventually retreated to his resting quarters. He was dead tired from the fight. He had sustained quite a lot of injuries and none of them were pretty. Although he had managed to heal some of them, he still needed time to sort out the internal injuries. Sitting in a meditative position, he circulated Yuan Energy through his body, experiencing the familiar refreshing sensation throughout his body. His body seemed to calm down with every passing minute. Feng Yun spent nearly an hour recovering from his injuries. During this time, no one dared to disturb him as Dong Fuzhen had personally instructed them not to. When he walked out, he had recovered his extremely handsome demeanor and a dazzling smile shot out. He looked around and to his surprise, he saw Xia Qing leaning back against a large tree under the shade. Her eyes were closed and her chest heaved with every breath she took. Feng Yun could tell that she was sleeping. She looked extremely beautiful at this moment, her face very cute and her womanly features already developing. Feng Yun sighed with admiration. Had she been waiting for him to emerge? He did not want to disturb her tranquil state and instead laid himself next to her in the same fashion. Together, they looked like a couple of dolls. 

Feng Yun decided to nap alongside of her and closed his eyes to enjoy the calm atmosphere. A slight breeze blew past making their hair flutter in the wind. Almost a minute after he had begun to sleep, he felt a tug on his arm. He looked over and saw that Xia Qing had unconsciously drew herself closer to Feng Yun and his arm was currently being hugged by her. She still hadn't noticed and remained asleep. Embarrassment flashed across his face. He did not know what the hell was going on? He was in a very difficult spot. If she woke up, then she might get the wrong idea and get angry. I'll face it like a man, he resolved. Still, he had never felt this embarrassed in front of a girl before. As an assassin, he had been trained to engage in various scenarios. As such, he had also been educated and thrust in situations where he had to engage in sexual acts with some women to get close to his target. He couldn't say he didn't like the feeling when he first lost his virginity, however he had never felt any love for the people he did it with. Often, he would slit the throat of the women after he had finished the job to keep things covert. Those women were all horrible people who had committed sinful acts. They had all been beautiful women of great proportions however in front of the young and pure Xia Qing, they were disgusting. When he was around her, he felt something he had never experienced before when he was with other women. Perhaps it was because her talent in beauty vastly outstripped them? Feng Yun couldn't be sure...nor could he understand it. He thought of how he would have to leave her soon and a pang of guilt and sadness forged itself in his heart. He would talk to her after they had waken up. Feng Yun resumed his sleep, forgetting everything that had transpired a few moments ago.

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After about a couple hours, rustling could be heard among the two figures laid before a tree. The girl's eyes had caught sunlight peering through the shade of leaves and poking a hole directly in her eyes. They were stimulated awake and opened with a groan escaping her lips. She tried to sit up but realized that her left hand was currently grasping something. He turned to look and to her surprise, her arm was currently tangles with the arm of the boy next to her. Letting out a gasp of recognition she uttered the name,

"Feng Yun..."

Almost as if he had been expecting it, Feng Yun rustled as well and his eyes flew open from the disturbance. He looked over to his right and saw an estranged Xia Qing beside him, full of confusion. A smile crept up onto his face as he decided to tease her a little.

"Morning princess!"

Xia Qing's eyes flashed with anger as she reacted to the tease. She tore her arm away from Feng Yun's and, with a red faced facial expression said,

"Who is your princess?!!!"

She tried to slap him lightly and her arm drew close to his face. Instead of anger, a brilliant smile blossomed onto Feng Yun's face. He stretched out his right arm and caught the incoming slap in mid air using the opportunity to inch his face closer to her's.

"Do you perhaps not like being called princess, my dear Xia Qing?" He was just teasing her of course but it cause Xia Qing to be incredibly embarrassed. Wrenching her arm away with little strength, she turned away and said,

"Hmph! So your injuries have recovered. That's good. Then I do not need to be here anymore!"

Feng Yun's expression did not change and inwardly he was thinking that it was too much fun to tease the girl in front of him. As Xia Qing was standing up to leave Feng Yun suddenly said,

"Actually, there is something we need to discuss."

Xia Qing stopped and looked over at Feng Yun. What she saw was a solemn look and a wry smile encompassing his face. He seemed to have something important to tell her so she sat down once more with him.

"So, what is it that has gotten you so sad? You haven't been this sad before. Does it have something to do with that huge serpent with the black spear?"

"Well yes. Dai Tian, the serpent, brought me to his home and talked to me. He wasn't trying to kill me. Rather, he wanted to offer me something." Xia Qing's expression became one of curiosity upon hearing this.

"So...what did he say?"

"He invited me to become his disciple."

"WHAT! Disciple! Wait. What the hell? Why?"

"He had a number of reasons and it would take a long time to explain it all. Anyways, I will become his disciple and learn from him."

"But...but what about the Holy Continental Academy? I thought you would enter with me!" 

"I know. However, I have made my decision to do this. This is my path down the road of cultivation!" Feng Yun was resolute as he said this and held absolute determination. Xia Qing looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before sighing in resignation.

"I understand what you have to do. I cannot force you to stay with me. How long will you be traveling with me?"

"I will accompany you till the end of our journey. Then, Dai Tian will pick me up to go back to the mountains." Xia Qing felt a little sad knowing she would be lonely but steeled her heart. Just like Feng Yun, she too had to advance on her own path. If she was too comfortable, then she would never grow. Thinking hard, she decided upon an idea. A smile crept onto her lips.

"Then...shall we make a promise?" Feng Yun's interest was piqued. What did she wish to say?

"Two years!" Xia Qing held up two fingers in her hand. "In two years, we will meet each other once more at the Holy Continental Academy! Fifteen is the age limit for the entrance exams. The next time we meet after this journey together will be in two years, at the Holy Continental Academy. You better be there!"

Feng Yun smiled in delight. He simply loved this compromise. He swore to himself that he would abide by this promise. Nodding his head he smiled and said,

"Definitely. I will not let you down."

"Good". She stood up to leave and a faint smile was on her face. Feng Yun couldn't resist the temptation to tease her once more and said,

"Hmm. We should add another thing to this promise. If you're already so beautiful at this age, how beautiful must you be at fifteen years old? Aiya! I cannot even imagine such a thing. All the men in the academy will want to monopolize you. I cannot let that happen. Yes yes, I certainly cannot let that happen. How about this? The next time we meet, we'll get married! Yeah, that seems like a great proposal!" Feng Yun of course was only kidding despite his fake serious expression. He did not expect such a big reaction from Xia Qing but it came anyway. She whipped her head around and a fierce blush appeared on her face. Her embarrassment was at its peak. She appeared a little indignant...and a tad bit angry. 

"Damn you Feng Yun. How shameless! You can actually say such a thing! Playing with a girl's emotions like that. Have you no shame? Only a boy could say something like this!" She stormed off in a rage and blushes constantly appearing all over her face every time she thought of that shameless kid. Feng Yun watched her go and had a innocent and clueless look on his face.

"Aiya! She didn't say no?"