Being blessed by a beauty's smile, embraced by one's warmth—it's a dream shared by men throughout the ages. However, even in such a situation, I couldn't genuinely revel in the experience.
"Why?" you might ask. Well, first and foremost, I happen to be a connoisseur of fine aged wine... I mean, I prefer older women. Also, there's a certain menacing murder-hobo glaring at me!
'I mean... his ex-fiancee keeps stealing glances at me... but, still!' I grumbled inwardly. 'Oh yeah, there's also his heroine(?) latched onto my arm...'
Now, you might be wondering, 'How on Earth did this happen?' as you listen to my inner monologue...
Well, it all began when I woke up on a certain magical staircase with an unexpected increase in my cultivation. I had somehow formed a spiritual core while unconscious, which was pretty cool.
But you know what wasn't cool? Jin Jinjing, the head disciple, waiting for me to regain consciousness, which startled me...
"I must go into isolation immediately to consolidate my cultivation!" I blurted out, aware that it was quite a lame excuse. But I didn't have the luxury of time to think it through since her fucking face was less than a foot away from mine! (a slight exaggeration)
So, not my fault, right?
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Anyways, that's not where it all ends. So, after two weeks of laying low, I finally decided to venture out, and that's when I got ambushed by a rather familiar face.
"Senior brother!" Long Ai approached me with a warm, infectious smile, which put me at ease... and that smile, that fucking smile was the start of my troubles.
This chance encounter with her unknowingly led me to the disciple's competition.
And at that place, the head disciple kept casting occasional glances in my direction and blushing for no apparent reason. The aforementioned murder hobo continued to shoot hostile glares at me, and Long Ai, who latched onto my arm, kept me trapped in this godforsaken place.
'Just my luck...' I lamented at my situation as I despaired, 'I need to escape from this place.'
Yet, as a cruel twist of fate, just as I tried to pry away from Long Ai's and escape,
"I would like to challenge senior brother to a spar!" the murder-hobo declared, glaring at me and pointing his halberd in my direction.
'Fuck!'
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"Haa... Haa..." Jianyu sat on his bed, breathing heavily as sweat covered his body, with visible droplets on his face. Frustration welled up within him as he clicked his tongue in annoyance before reaching for his sword. With no pause, he left his room.
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"As our cultivation bases vary by a major realm, I believe it would be unfair of me to have a spar with junior brother," I said, offering a gentle smile as a means to extricate myself from this uncomfortable situation.
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"It wouldn't be unfair at all, senior brother," the murder-hobo replied, not taking a hint at all, like a damn asshole.
"This rude...!" Long Ai muttered through gritted teeth, her glare directed at the murder hobo.
'Oh... so he was taunting me! Damn, that was indirect,' I realized.
Reluctantly, I agreed, fearing that Long Ai might excalate the situation even further.
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"Tsk!" Jianyu clicked his tongue in annoyance, reaching out to his sword as he left to train.
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"Is running away all that your parents taught you?" The 'protagonist' taunted me, momentarily causing me to pause. However, I had already grown immune to such taunts long ago.
'Same old insults, lacking all creativity...' I thought to myself.
Throughout the battle, I had been steadily pushed back. My proficiency lies in the wood attribute, but I struggle with water and earth attribute techniques, putting me at a disadvantage against him, especially since he utilizes flame attribute techniques.
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"..." I took my sword and left the room.
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"Fucking bitch," my mutters seethed as I glared at this insufferable bitch, my patience worn thin. Smoke sizzled from the burnt flesh of my arm, filling the air with an unpleasant scent.
I'd reached my limit.
I charged at him, my fist enveloped in a muddy gauntlet. A wave of flames crashed against me, but I paid it no mind. His crimson halberd pierced my side, but I brushed off the pain.
I seized his throat, snarling, "You had the audacity to bring such an artifact to a spar." My body became encased in fleshy green armor, shielding me from the burns. My narrowed eyes gleamed with anger.
"Well, if your aim was to annoy me with those memories, then you've clearly succeeded!" My now earthen fist struck his face, causing his nose to bleed.
"I-I gi..." he began to concede, but I delivered another punch to silence him, determined not to let him off the hook.
"Let's not be too hasty," I remarked as I continued to deliver measured punches, ensuring not to incapacitate him completely. It was essential to keep him conscious, and I couldn't allow him to give up just yet.
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"..." Silently, I left my room and walked out of my residence on Lunar-Frost Peak. A shadow loomed in my mind, with recurring hazy dreams of the past, but soon they vanished without a trace.
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White flames emanated from that bastard's body as a chill settled into the atmosphere. With his now azure eyes, he looked at me with indifference.
"Junior, stay your hand, your cruelty is destructive in nature." he said calmly, while I glared at him while distancing myself from him, who now had white flowing long hair.
"Cruel?" My voice came out sharper than I expected as I continued to glare at him. "You call me cruel?"
I almost laughed aloud as I stared at the hypocrite in front of me. "Then what about you?" I spoke without pointing at anyone in particular, yet my intent was clear as day.
"You made me relive that damn moment! The ever-diminishing warmth of my parents, the warm liquid covering my body, the sticky feeling that'll never wash away!" My eyes moistened, yet not a tear fell from my eyes. Neither I nor Zhou Tiandi could give up on this matter, two completely different people, with completely different personalities, yet we shared the sorrow and the same trauma.
"..." He, the most likely teacher in the ring© of that bastard, remained silent and indifferent.
"Anyways, since no one seems to be stopping the fight," scanning through the audience, I glanced at the judge who wasn't making a move. I continued, "I guess you're regarded as a mere artifact, huh?"
This seemed to touch upon Ring-guy's pride as his brows furrowed.
"Junior, I'll allow you to leave unharmed if you step down right now."
"Still acting all calm, are we?" I grinned at him in disdain as I spoke, "Do you truly think I don't know that your time is limited, that your body is crumbling apart as we speak?"
"Here, I'll be extra generous today! Just admit your defeat, lower your head, and I'll let you leave!"
No words were spoken after this as tendrils of white flames came crashing towards me.