Making Their Acquaintance

"Report in today? What a joke..."

He had more important things to do.

For instance, checking whether the Liu siblings would be bullied by those three bastards. And besides, he should probably AFK until he reached Dou Master first... Better make a run for it!

Before Mo Xuan had gone too far, Jiang Donghua oiled his feet. With a flash, he darted straight in the opposite direction and vanished at the end of the corridor within a few breaths.

As Mo Xuan walked, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

"Why hasn't that brat followed me?"

He halted and slowly turned around, only to find nothing behind him. Where was Jiang Donghua's shadow?

Mo Xuan.

"...?"

He froze for a second, then realized what had happened. His entire face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot.

"That bastard brat... He actually dared to stand this old man up?!"

"Boom—!"

An invisible fury erupted. The air around him seemed to ignite as scorching heat waves swept outward from Mo Xuan, terrifying the passing students nearby and sending them scrambling away in fear.

"Damn... Why is Master Mo Xuan suddenly so furious?"

Someone muttered quietly.

"I heard he took a liking to a new student just now, but that kid turned around and ran off!"

"What?! Someone actually dared to refuse Master Mo Xuan's personal instruction?!"

"More than refuse—he practically slapped him in the face!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Their gazes toward Mo Xuan were filled with awe, while they silently lit a candle for that reckless genius freshman.

Mo Xuan stood where he was, veins bulging on his forehead as his clenched fists crackled.

How many years had it been...

How many years had it been since anyone dared to openly defy his wishes like this?!

Even the academy elders had to be polite when they saw him, yet today he had actually been played by some snot-nosed brat?!

"Good... Very good!"

Mo Xuan laughed in extreme anger, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

"Jiang Donghua, was it? I'd like to see just where you can run to!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Donghua, who had already slipped back to the dormitory, suddenly sneezed.

"Strange, why do I have such a bad feeling?"

He rubbed his nose and muttered.

Mo Xuan returned to the Alchemy Pavilion with a dark expression. Flicking his sleeve, he sat heavily in his grand chair.

"The Bone-Mending Pill assessment."

He narrowed his eyes, lightly tapping the tabletop with his fingertips.

"If that brat can't complete it this year!"

At that thought, a cold smile curled across his lips.

"Then we'll see how you beg me!"

He had seen plenty of talented young people, but without the guidance of a renowned master, even the greatest talent was useless!

An alchemist apprentice?

Heh, that was enough to make the brat struggle at the bottom for years!

"Let's see how arrogant you can be."

Mo Xuan snorted coldly.

"Once you've smashed your head against enough walls, you'll naturally understand how hard it is to find a renowned master!"

He lifted his teacup and took a sip, a calculating gleam flashing through his eyes.

"By then, it won't be this old man begging you to learn. You'll be kneeling and begging this old man to teach you!"

Jiang Donghua had no idea that he had already caught the attention of a certain petty Alchemy Master.

Three One-star Dou Zhes staggered into Chen Ming's cultivation room, lingering terror still written across their faces.

"C-Chen... Senior Brother Chen! Something terrible has happened!"

Chen Xiao, who led them, spoke with a trembling voice, too frightened even to wipe away the cold sweat on his forehead.

Chen Ming had been meditating with his eyes closed. At the words, he abruptly opened them, anger flashing through his gaze.

"You useless trash! Didn't I say I was at a critical point in breaking through to Five-star Dou Master?"

He grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled it at them.

"You couldn't even handle two pieces of trash who aren't even Dou Zhes?!"

The teacup smashed beside Chen Xiao's feet, scalding tea splashing all over him. But Chen Xiao had no time to care as he hurriedly said,

"Senior Brother, Master Mo Xuan is backing Jiang Donghua!"

"What?!"

Chen Ming's expression changed drastically as he shot to his feet.

"Fifth-grade Alchemist Mo Xuan? Are you certain?"

"Absolutely!"

Another lackey wailed miserably.

"Master Mo Xuan personally stepped in. Even Instructor Lin from the Disciplinary Hall didn't dare say another word!"

Chen Ming's expression darkened and brightened unpredictably, his fists unconsciously clenching. Of course he knew the weight carried by a Fifth-grade Alchemist.

That was a great figure even his father had to curry favor with!

"Trash!"

He suddenly lashed out with a kick, overturning the tea table before him.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"

The three lackeys shrank into a ball in fright. Summoning his courage, Chen Xiao said,

"Senior Brother, what do we do now? Jiang Donghua has Master Mo Xuan protecting him. We...?"

Chen Ming paced the room with a grim expression for several steps before suddenly stopping. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

"Heh..."

He chuckled and turned to look at his three trembling subordinates.

"Then the three of you will have to suffer a little more."

Before the three could react, Chen Ming struck like lightning, landing three vicious punches on their already injured chests!

"Pfft—"

All three spat out blood and staggered to their knees. Clutching his chest, Chen Xiao stared in utter disbelief.

"S-Senior Brother...?"

"Enough nonsense."

Chen Ming flicked his wrist and said coldly,

"Now, drag your miserable selves with me to see the Liu siblings."

"Senior Brother, you mean..."

"If we can't be enemies, then we should at least become good friends."

Chen Ming narrowed his eyes, a meaningful smile curling at his lips.

"Since Jiang Donghua has Master Mo Xuan backing him, we naturally need to... find another way to get along."

As he spoke, he grabbed Chen Xiao by the collar.

"Remember, when you see the Liu siblings later, apologize properly. If you ruin the act..."

The unspoken threat in his words made the three lackeys shudder.

A short while later, in the cultivation area.

The Liu siblings were practicing basic Dou Skills when they suddenly saw Chen Ming dragging three battered lackeys toward them. They immediately assumed defensive stances.

Yet Chen Ming displayed an almost kindly smile and kicked Chen Xiao in front of them.

"Why aren't you quickly apologizing to Junior Brother Liu and Junior Sister Liu?!"

Chen Xiao and the other two stumbled from the kick and fell directly to their knees before the Liu siblings.

Suppressing the agonizing pain in their chests, they pressed their foreheads to the ground, their voices trembling.

"Senior Brother Liu, Junior Sister Liu, we were blind and ignorant..."

"We offended you before. Please be magnanimous..."

The Liu siblings looked at each other, completely unprepared for this turn of events.

Junior Sister Liu cautiously took half a step back and whispered,

"Brother, what are they up to?"

Senior Brother Liu frowned at Chen Ming, quietly gathering Dou Qi in his hand.

"Senior Brother Chen, why are you being so... courteous today?"

Chen Ming's smile did not fade. He stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"It was all a misunderstanding. These useless subordinates of mine acted on their own and offended you two. I specifically brought them here today to make amends."

As he spoke, he took an exquisite jade box from his robes.

"These are three Qi-Nourishing Pills, offered as compensation."

Junior Sister Liu's eyes widened. Qi-Nourishing Pills were rare treasures for cultivators in the Dou Qi stage!

"This..."

But Senior Brother Liu did not dare accept them rashly.

"Senior Brother Chen is suddenly treating us so generously. We truly do not deserve it."

Chen Ming's smile deepened.

"Junior Brother Liu, you worry too much. Actually..."

He lowered his voice.

"I heard that the two of you are close with Jiang Donghua? Could you perhaps introduce me to him?"

The Liu siblings immediately understood.

Junior Sister Liu could not help sneering.

"So it's because of Senior Brother Jiang."

Chen Ming's expression remained unchanged.

"Junior Brother Jiang is exceptionally talented and has earned Master Mo Xuan's favor. Naturally, we..."

Before he could finish, a cold snort suddenly sounded from afar.

"Chen Ming, you certainly know how to scheme."

Everyone turned around to see Jiang Donghua standing not far away at some point, his eyes full of mockery.