He Wasn't Playing Fair

For some reason, ever since Ye Ziyun showed up, Nie Li had been acting strange.

Take now, for instance. He was actually sleeping through history class. It was only the third day of school, and he was already slacking off!

After waking up, Nie Li stared at Ye Ziyun's back.

Then, once he'd had his fill, he went right back to sleeping with his head on the desk.

Was this guy fantasizing about Ye Ziyun in his sleep? Xian Wu's mouth fell open in surprise, like a hippopotamus.

He'd thought his own imagination was pretty wild, but this...

Had Nie Li already done something to Ye Ziyun in his head?

What a pervert. An absolute pervert. He'd better stay away from this guy from now on. If Nie Li set his sights on him, he'd be in trouble.

It wouldn't actually affect him, but the thought of someone fantasizing about him behind his back gave Xian Wu goosebumps.

Soon, the third afternoon class ended.

Holding his parchment, Xian Wu went to ask Ye Ziyun for help again. There were a few parts he still didn't quite understand.

"Ye Ziyun, could you explain this part to me? I don't quite get it." Xian Wu laid the parchment on her desk and pointed to a word with his right index finger.

"I've explained everything I can. If you still don't understand, there's nothing more I can do. Ask the teacher tomorrow." Ye Ziyun folded her arms.

Though she hadn't fully believed what that female student had told her, she was still very wary of Xian Wu.

As the saying went, better to believe it than risk finding out it wasn't true.

What she found most intolerable was that he had actually taken off his pants in front of Ning'er.

That filthy behavior had crossed the line. She wouldn't help Xian Wu again. The fact that she wasn't beating him up already counted as mercy.

"Okay." Xian Wu awkwardly scratched his head, picked up the parchment, and left in silence.

What was wrong with Ye Ziyun? It had only taken one class for Xiao Ning'er to rub off on her?

So being aloof really was contagious.

Watching Xian Wu retreat in defeat, the female student who'd been plotting against him behind the scenes grinned maliciously. She just couldn't stand how Xian Wu never knew his place.

Don't think being class representative makes you special. Trash is trash. With talent that pathetic, you'll never amount to anything.

Night slowly fell.

After a relaxing hot shower, Xian Wu prepared to spend another all-nighter in the Trial Grounds.

"Going on another date with Hu Yan Bo Ruo?" Zhang Ming lay in bed, grinning lecherously as he teased him.

"Hu Yan Bo Ruo?" Xian Wu paused. "You mean Hu Yan Lan Ruo, right?"

Zhang Ming sat up, clasped both hands to his chest, and swayed his body.

The worldly Xian Wu immediately understood what he meant.

"Don't talk nonsense. If she hears you, you'll be in for it," Xian Wu warned him kindly.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo wasn't someone to trifle with. Punishing Zhang Ming would be as easy for her as spitting.

Zhang Ming didn't care. "So you admit it, then? Ask your sister-in-law if she has any friends and get her to introduce me to one."

Xian Wu remembered the group of female students he'd encountered on the road that day. One of them had been big, dark, and covered in freckles. She'd be perfect for that lecher Zhang Ming.

Ignoring him, Xian Wu pushed open the door and left.

Once he entered the Trial Grounds, he headed for yesterday's campsite as if he knew the way by heart.

To Xian Wu's surprise, Xiao Ning'er had arrived before him.

"Good evening, Xiao Ning'er," Xian Wu greeted her warmly.

As the saying went, you didn't hit someone who greeted you with a smile. She probably wouldn't—

Seeing Xiao Ning'er glare at him, Xian Wu wisely hurried away.

Fine, he'd run his mouth. If he ever spoke to her again, he'd take her surname!

"Wait!" Xiao Ning'er called, her voice lilting.

Xian Wu stopped. Without turning around, he straightened his back and put on an aloof air. "Spit it out!"

Suddenly, he felt a chill against his neck.

Xiao Ning'er had pressed the Azure Moon Short Sword to his throat. Her voice was half angry, half teasing. "What did you just say? Say it again."

Xian Wu really wanted to use the Demon Left Hand to teach this uppity young girl a lesson and make her stand naked in front of him.

But if he really did that, he might enrage Xiao Ning'er, and at least one of them would end up dead.

Be patient, and the storm would pass. Take a step back, and the world would open up.

He'd endure it!

But just you wait. You put a sword to my neck today, and tomorrow I'll point my spear at your forehead.

I always kept my word!

"What I meant was, what can I do for you, ma'am? How may I be of service?" Xian Wu asked obsequiously, his voice soft and sweet, while cursing Xiao Ning'er's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart.

"Come with me!" Xiao Ning'er grabbed Xian Wu by the ear and dragged him toward the cliff wall.

"Let go, let go! Let go already, or you'll tear it off!" In his panic, Xian Wu nearly used the Demon Left Hand.

You brought this on yourself!

Xian Wu grabbed Xiao Ning'er's ponytail with his right hand and yanked her head back.

"Let go!" Xiao Ning'er ordered.

"You let go first!" Xian Wu bargained.

"Are you letting go or not?" Xiao Ning'er gritted her teeth, wishing she could kill him with a single sword stroke.

"You let go first!" Xian Wu repeated.

"Then—die!" Xiao Ning'er, no longer thinking clearly, swung the Azure Moon Short Sword in her left hand.

Xian Wu didn't flinch. He blocked it with the Demon Left Hand.

In an instant, the Azure Moon Short Sword turned into a shower of tiny iron atoms that clattered to the ground.

Xiao Ning'er's delicate hand grabbed at empty air, and her little fist landed lightly against Xian Wu's chest.

??? Where had the Azure Moon Short Sword gone?

"Don't push me just because I've been holding back!" Xian Wu tightened his grip and pulled Xiao Ning'er backward into his arms.

"You... You shameless pig! Let go of me!" Xiao Ning'er struggled wildly in Xian Wu's embrace.

Xian Wu snapped, "Let go! Or I'll touch you with my left hand!" As he spoke, his hand swept toward Xiao Ning'er's chest.

"Ah!!! Pervert!!!" Xiao Ning'er shrieked and let go of Xian Wu's right ear.

Xian Wu didn't take advantage of her further. He withdrew his left hand, released her with his right, then pressed that hand against her back and pushed her away.

"You bastard! You've ruined my reputation! I'll kill you!" Xiao Ning'er's eyes reddened as she took a three-foot sword from her Space Ring and launched a furious attack on Xian Wu.

Xian Wu retreated again and again. "You were the one who grabbed my ear first! Can't you be reasonable? We were minding our own business, so why did you call me over? Were you lonely and looking for company?"

Even if this went all the way to the City Lord, he'd be in the right.

"Shut up! I'll make sure you die knowing why!" Xiao Ning'er snapped. She pointed behind her at the nearby cliff wall. "Dare you say you weren't the one who drew that turtle?"

Xian Wu raised four fingers and swore solemnly. "I swear by the Heavenly Dao, I didn't draw a turtle on the cliff wall!"

He'd drawn a dog.

Damn, did it not look like one? It looked pretty much like a dog! Was Xiao Ning'er's sense of aesthetics the problem?

Seeing Xian Wu swear by the Heavenly Dao, Xiao Ning'er's anger faded by more than half.

"Even if you didn't draw it, you still took liberties with me just now. I can't let that slide!" Xiao Ning'er gritted her teeth and raised the Jade Hand Great Sword.