Broken Relationship

A few more days passed after that.

Time arrived on December 14th.

On the training grounds in the early morning, shouts echoed one after another. Each circulation of Blood Essence brought forth a mist of white fog.

Xu Yuan was immersed in contemplating the exertion techniques of the Thunderclap Fist when a figure gracefully approached.

"Brother Xu, it's been a while," Sun Rong said with a perfectly fitting smile. "Have you had any insights practicing the Thunderclap Fist these past few days?"

Xu Yuan looked up, his movements unwavering, and calmly replied, "Your aptitude is better than mine, why ask me?"

"It's about learning by analogy," Sun Rong chuckled. "Just like when we were in the outer court, everyone's experiences are different."

She's even playing the emotional card.

Xu Yuan chuckled inwardly, but seeing her earnest gaze, he couldn't directly refuse. It wouldn't hurt to share a few words to confirm their viewpoints.

He pondered for a moment and explained his rudimentary understanding of coordinating exertion and driving the Blood Essence foundation.

"I think, before the strength is cultivated, one shouldn't pursue speed in the movements too much. Instead, one needs to calm down and feel the rhythm of Blood Essence circulation..."

However, before he could finish, a sharp voice suddenly interjected, "No, what you're saying is wrong!"

The woman with the slightly sharp chin had appeared at some point, a trace of anger on her face.

"Our dorm's Eldest Sister didn't say it like that."

"Your Eldest Sister is?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Our Eldest Sister is a Martial Student. She became a formal Martial Artist in just half a month, and even the Martial Masters acknowledged her exceptional aptitude," the woman said with a sense of pride.

"So?"

"So, the Thunderclap Fist emphasizes posture. When first learning, one should use the stance to drive Blood Essence, which can cultivate strength faster. Like your lukewarm approach, when will you ever master it?"

She paused, then scrutinized Xu Yuan with a hint of disdain. "Also, I heard from Rongrong that you only broke through to Martial Artist at the end of the month, right? Your Aptitude is so... mediocre. Don't fail to grasp it yourself and then hinder others!"

These words were quite rude, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Sun Rong looked a bit embarrassed. She had only come to get closer to them. In terms of Thunderclap Fist experience, the other party probably wasn't as good as her, but these words were indeed harsh.

"A Li, don't say that..."

Just as she was about to mediate, Li Shan, standing nearby, couldn't stand it any longer and retorted indignantly, "What kind of way are you talking? I know better than you how perceptive Brother Xu is. He trains harder than anyone. How can his experiences mislead people?"

The woman sneered, lifting her chin proudly. "If hard work were useful, everyone would be a Martial Master, wouldn't they? Naturally, whoever has higher talent speaks the truth..."

Before she could finish, Xu Yuan interrupted, "Alright, if you want to find a sense of superiority, go somewhere else. Lift your chin any higher, and I'm afraid you'll poke someone!"

With that, he ignored them and walked aside to practice on his own.

Li Shan also scoffed and, likewise, ignored them, focusing on his own movements.

"You guys..." The woman's face flushed with anger and then paled. She wanted to say more but was pulled away by Sun Rong, whose expression was helpless.

After the two walked away, Li Shan came over and said irritably, "What kind of people does Sun Rong hang out with all day?"

"She starts criticizing people after just a few words. Doesn't she even look at what kind of person she is?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, signaling that he didn't need to pay attention to such noise.

The outside world's disturbances were merely passing breezes to him.

However, after this incident, the boundary between him and them had become even clearer.

That evening.

When everyone returned from training, they saw Qin Yang and Chen Sanli chatting and laughing together. On the table sat half a bag of leftover peanuts, with shells scattered everywhere.

Chen Sanli's throat was dry from talking. He casually picked up a gray pottery water flask from the table and took a big gulp.

Xu Yuan recognized it as Gao Yuan's water flask, which he usually cherished. He instinctively looked at Gao Yuan.

As expected, Gao Yuan's expression immediately changed.

As they lived under the same roof, everyone knew Gao Yuan was usually very clean. His bed was always neatly made, and he might even have some obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

After taking several large gulps, Chen Sanli noticed everyone had returned and chuckled, "Brother Gao, I was really thirsty and borrowed your water. I'll refill it for you later!"

Wang Huan frowned upon seeing this and took on the air of the dorm leader to mediate. "Sanli, you clumsy kid! You know Yuan likes to be clean, right? Make sure you wash the water flask properly later."

Chen Sanli put down the flask and responded with a grin, "Got it, got it. I'll wash it squeaky clean..."

"No need."

Gao Yuan suddenly stepped forward, snatched the flask, and without even looking, raised his hand and smashed it fiercely out the door!

The pottery flask shattered on the stone steps, splashing water everywhere.

The entire dormitory fell silent.

Gao Yuan turned around and said coldly, "Wash? Who knows what he's touched or been exposed to. Even after washing, I'd still find it dirty!"

Chen Sanli's smile froze. Even with his thick skin, he felt a burning shame at that moment. "You... what do you mean by that?!"

Qin Yang also stood up, his expression grim.

"Yuanzi, those words are a bit harsh. Sanli shouldn't have casually taken your things, so just have him compensate you for it. Why insult him like this?"

"Insult?" Gao Yuan looked up at him, a mocking smile curling his lips. "You two hang out together every day, listening to opera and drinking. You come back and step on the bed without even washing your shoes... Do you think you're so clean?"

Qin Yang was so thoroughly rebutted that he couldn't speak, his face a mixture of blue and white.

Originally, the two of them had come from the same background as Martial Students and had a decent relationship. But after this incident, with Qin Yang's biased words, no matter how good their relationship was, a rift would form.

Li Shan quickly tried to mediate. "Both of you, say less! Sanli, you'll buy a new kettle to compensate Yuanzi tomorrow. Yuanzi, you should also calm down; your words were indeed excessive..."

"Excessive?" Gao Yuan interrupted him, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone in the room.

"Then I'll ask you, if he had used your quilt to wipe his feet today, would you also cheerfully say, 'Just compensate me with a new one'?"

Silence fell upon the room.

Chen Sanli, filled with shame and anger, blurted out, "Aren't you just looking down on us because our backgrounds aren't as refined as yours? Acting so high and mighty! Who in the martial academy hasn't struggled their way up? Why are you so precious?!"

"I'm precious?" Gao Yuan suddenly laughed, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Yes, I am precious. At least I know not to casually touch other people's things, unlike you, who mistake shamelessness for casualness!"

"You damn..." Chen Sanli raised his fist, about to charge forward, but Wang Huan grabbed him.

"Enough!"

Wang Huan was also angered. He pointed at Gao Yuan and reprimanded him, "So you're the only clean and refined one? We all live under the same roof, did you have to say it like that?"

"Now you think my words are too harsh?" Gao Yuan didn't back down, letting out two cold laughs. "When he touched my things, why didn't you think he was acting inappropriately?"

Wang Huan was rendered speechless by the retort. After a long pause, he threw his hands up and said, "Fine, fine, fine. I can't manage this. Do whatever you want!"

The atmosphere in the dormitory became tense once more.

Xu Yuan watched everything with a cold gaze, remaining silent.

This dormitory was meant to bring a group of unfamiliar people together, so some friction was completely normal.

And Chen Sanli was indeed the one who had reached out and touched something, knowing the other person had a cleanliness obsession and deliberately provoking them; it was purely asking for trouble.

Tian Yang watched quietly, also saying nothing. He wasn't really familiar with these people, and trying to mediate now might just earn him a scolding.

Xiao Sheng kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, choosing to keep his distance from this complicated interpersonal dynamic.

Soon, Chen Sanli slammed the door and left, with Qin Yang following him.

Gao Yuan silently stepped forward to clean up the debris by the door and went to fetch water to wash up by himself.

In the end, everyone could only return to their beds in silence, the previous warmth and camaraderie gone.