Social Death

Inside the Training Ground, weapon fragments lay scattered across the floor. The air was filled with the stench of sweat left behind by battle and... an ethereal, lingering fragrance.

Gu Jinzhi sniffed. This strange fragrance felt somewhat familiar. Could it be from the girl?

He steadied himself and did not investigate further. Struggling, he climbed to his feet and looked toward Li Wei, who was still lying on her back more than ten meters away, gasping for breath.

A First Order martial artist... Natal Lotus Flower? Unity of Heaven and Man?

He shook his head, his face carrying an indescribably complicated look. He could not understand it at all.

But given his personality, he would not casually pry into other people's secrets.

Besides, this person was about to become his wife.

Great Perfection... was it?

His thoughts drifted back to the freshman competition four years ago, to his former self, brimming with youthful ambition.

Perhaps choosing to break through ahead of time after the competition had ultimately left him with some regrets...

"Whew—!"

He exhaled deeply and slowly walked over to Li Wei.

Only when he drew closer did he see clearly that the girl's disheveled hair was plastered to her sweat-dampened cheeks.

Her light-blue dress and "safety shorts" were somewhat torn, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin that was dazzlingly pale beneath the Training Ground's lights.

Gu Jinzhi's heartbeat suddenly missed a beat. A rush of heat surged to his cheeks, only to be forcibly suppressed.

He did his best to maintain his cool tone and extended a hand. "You're very strong."

Li Wei was lying on the floor, every muscle aching, a breath of resentment lodged in her chest.

He makes it sound like I lost! Who does he think he's looking down on?

She looked at Gu Jinzhi's outstretched hand and crooked her mouth into a grin.

The next instant, she suddenly seized Gu Jinzhi by the wrist. Putting force into her waist and abdomen, she sprang up like a carp leaping over a dragon gate, flipping to her feet while borrowing the momentum to yank hard!

Caught off guard, Gu Jinzhi was pulled off balance by that force and slammed heavily onto the floor.

"Haha, it's still not certain who won and who lost!"

Li Wei let out a strange laugh and pounced on him.

Take that, take that, take that—! I'm going to beat you into submission today, you punk!

Gu Jinzhi was completely bewildered. He had never seen techniques so disorderly, like a shrewish woman brawling.

Pinned beneath her, he flailed about, blocking Li Wei's wildly swinging fists.

What made it even more difficult for him was that he had to constantly take care not to touch any of the places on the girl's body that he should not touch.

For a time, this Heaven's Chosen was in an utterly miserable state, his movements stiff as a marionette on strings.

The two kept grappling, their positions growing stranger and stranger.

Just then...

The heavy sensor doors of the Training Ground opened to both sides, and Gu Shiheng and his wife, Liang Qiushi, rushed in with Gu Jinwen and Gu Jinyi.

All four of them suddenly stopped in their tracks, their gazes converging on the center of the room.

They saw Li Wei and Gu Jinzhi tangled together, their clothes disheveled and their cheeks carrying an unnatural flush as they panted heavily.

The four of them instantly turned to stone.

Gu Shiheng's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly.

A trace of the faintest bewilderment flashed through Liang Qiushi's eyes.

Gu Jinwen's mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg.

Gu Jinyi let out a startled "Ah!" and covered her eyes with both hands, yet could not resist peeking through her fingers.

"Ahem, ahem!"

Gu Shiheng coughed heavily twice, breaking the deathly awkward silence.

"Looks like... we came at a bad time?"

At those words, Li Wei was struck by lightning.

She sprang away from Gu Jinzhi, her cheeks red as boiled shrimp, wishing she could immediately find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

It's over! This is a massive public death scene! I'll never be able to face anyone again!

Gu Jinzhi also quickly got to his feet and straightened his equally disheveled training clothes. His ears were suspiciously red, and his gaze wandered.

Liang Qiushi had no choice but to step forward, pretending she had seen nothing of that highly misleading scene just now, her tone as gentle as ever.

"Finished fighting? Look at the state you're both in. Go tidy yourselves up first."

Half an hour later, everyone gathered again in the living room of Gu Jinzhi's Small Building.

Gu Shiheng looked at Li Wei first, his expression still somewhat dazed. "I watched the battle recording. Incredible, incredible!"

Then he asked, "I heard you're also at Blood-Nurturing Great Perfection?"

Li Wei had changed into a light-gray cotton house dress. Her little face was flushed, and she had somehow infused the slightly old-fashioned colors with a youthful charm.

Hearing Gu Shiheng's question, she nodded timidly, still feeling too ashamed to face anyone.

"Yes..."

Seeing her like this, Gu Shiheng could not help smiling. He turned to his wife. "Xiao Qiu, look at this child. She's actually feeling shy now."

Liang Qiushi pretended to be angry. "That's enough, that's enough. How old are you, still teasing a young girl?"

"Hahahaha!"

Gu Shiheng let out a hearty laugh. Then his manner abruptly changed as he looked at Gu Jinzhi and said sternly, "Jinzhi, come with me!"

"Yes, Father."

The father and son left for some inexplicable reason, and no one knew what they had to discuss.

The two little ones, who had already been unable to contain their excitement, did not care about any of that. Seeing their usually imposing father and elder brother leave, they immediately became excited and shot over to Li Wei's side.

"Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, you're amazing! A First Order beating a Third Order—and not just any Third Order, but my brother, a Third Order who can fight above his level!"

"Elder Sister Jiang, you and Big Brother..." Gu Jinwen pressed his fists together, thumbs touching, his face taut with nerves. "Did you do that thing?"

Liang Qiushi slapped her second son on the back of the head. "All right, let your sister-in-law rest properly. She still has important business tomorrow."

The two little ones instantly drooped their heads and slipped away beneath their mother's unquestionable gaze.

After they left, only Li Wei and Liang Qiushi remained in the living room.

Liang Qiushi sat down beside Li Wei and asked softly, "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Li Wei rubbed her burning cheeks. "No..."

Liang Qiushi reached over and smoothed the stray hair by her ear.

"Speaking of which, I still have to thank you. If not for you, Jinzhi's Blazing Sun Heavenly Saber might not have broken through to the Great Accomplishment realm so quickly."

"I gained something from it too." Li Wei did not want to take credit for the achievement. After all, her original intention had merely been to beat that punk into submission.

Who would have thought it would end up like that... Damn it, was my brain malfunctioning back then?

And why could Gu Jinzhi break through in the middle of battle? Who's the protagonist here, anyway?!

Fortunately, she had not gained nothing from this battle either.

She secretly brought up the system panel and looked at the change in the Combat Method column.

Combat Method: First String: Cold Pool Sinking Jade Minor Accomplishment 600/1000(+)

She thought, So actual combat can also increase Combat Method progress. I don't necessarily have to spend points.

Then can practice fill the progress bar too? I can try it later.

Still, practicing honestly on my own is ultimately not as good as the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect...

Watching Li Wei's adorable little face shift through a series of expressions, Liang Qiushi could not help stroking her long hair. "Tomorrow, go to the Martial Arts Alliance and take the formal martial artist examination."

Seeing that Li Wei still looked somewhat blank, she became serious. "Didn't we agree this morning? Display your strength and raise your reputation. That way, the Zhang family will be wary of acting recklessly."

She continued, "But during the examination, make sure to hide the effects of the Proximity to the Dao Body, understand?"

Li Wei hurriedly nodded.

By now, the shame and embarrassment in her heart had eased somewhat.

Thinking of the examination that would begin tomorrow, she could not help looking forward to it.

Oh my, I'm about to start showing off? I like it!

After arranging the important business, Liang Qiushi let out a sigh of relief. Seeing that there was no one else in the hall, she suddenly lowered her voice. "You and Jinzhi just now..."

"Misunderstanding!" Li Wei decisively thrust out her Erkang hand, her face collapsing as she wailed with utmost solemnity, "Aunt Liang, it was all a misunderstanding~~~!"