"Who are you?" Zhu Jun Xiang asked cautiously. The voice outside the door sounded somewhat familiar, yet somewhat strange.
He couldn't be sure it was Xian Wu. Xian Wu might have a sharp tongue, but his voice wasn't hoarse, much less like someone was choking him.
"It's Xian Wu. Hurry and open the door!" Xian Wu urged anxiously.
Not only was he freezing, but his whole body ached. All he wanted was to dive into a warm bed and sleep soundly.
Haste made waste. If only he hadn't been in such a rush and recklessly practiced the Seven Star Divine Curse before he fully understood it.
Xian Wu couldn't help suspecting Ye Ziyun. Had she tampered with something while helping him interpret the technique?
Why would she do that? He hadn't offended her. Could it be because of Xiao Ning'er?
Because he'd accidentally dropped his pants in front of her?
After he heard the old instructor's explanation tomorrow, everything would become clear.
If Ye Ziyun really had harmed him, he would demand an explanation from her.
Zhu Jun Xiang lit the oil lamp in the room, opened the door, and ushered Xian Wu inside.
"Big Brother, what happened to you?" Zhu Jun Xiang cried out. "Which bastard beat you up like this?"
Xian Wu's hair was silver-white, his face gaunt, and his cheeks were bruised purple and blue, as if he'd been beaten.
Seeing how miserable Xian Wu looked, Zhang Ming sat up too, wrapped in his quilt.
Weren't you off meeting Hu Yan Lan Ruo? How'd you end up in such a sorry state? Could she have drained you dry? Zhang Ming thought maliciously, his mind conjuring up some very inappropriate scenes.
Xian Wu entered the room and gave Zhang Ming a scornful glare.
He took off his shoes, climbed into bed, and wrapped himself tightly in the quilt.
"Big Brother, are you all right?" Zhu Jun Xiang asked with concern as he shut the door. Could Hu Yan Lan Ruo really have done this to him? It had been consensual, so even if he complained to the dean, the dean probably wouldn't pay it any mind.
Besides, Xian Wu's Soul Force was only 1, and his Sea of Soul was the lowest-grade red one. It didn't make much sense for Hu Yan Lan Ruo to drain a man who was inferior to her in every way.
With his back turned, Xian Wu rasped, "I'm fine. I'll be better after I sleep." He hoped so. He just prayed there wouldn't be any lingering effects.
Clouds rose from the mountains, and birds chirped.
"Big Brother, wake up. It's time for breakfast." Zhu Jun Xiang nudged Xian Wu, who was still fast asleep. Xian Wu was usually the first one up in the dormitory, but today he was sleeping in. Could it be a side effect of being drained?
At the sound of his voice, Xian Wu's eyes flew open. He hurriedly asked, "What time is it?"
"It's the fifth quarter of the Mao hour. Class starts in three quarters of an hour," Zhu Jun Xiang replied. "Big Brother, are you all right?"
"I'm fine!" Xian Wu turned his head and said impatiently, "Why are you like Yang Mi, going on and on asking if I'm all right? You're driving me crazy. What's with that look? Do I have a flower on my face?"
"Big Brother... did you get into a fight last night? You've got bruises all over your face. I'll get the mirror; take a look." Zhu Jun Xiang picked up the bronze mirror from the table.
"You two take your time looking. I'm leaving first. I won't wait for you." Zhang Ming straightened his clothes and went out the door.
Taking the mirror, Xian Wu went to the window and held it up in the sunlight.
To his surprise, his hair was white as silver frost, and several bruises of different sizes had appeared on his face.
That wasn't all. His arms, chest, thighs—his whole body was covered in similar bruises. He looked like a toad or a spotted cat.
"Oh heavens, I'm disfigured!!!" Xian Wu screamed.
The only thing worth celebrating was that his voice had returned to normal.
"Big Brother, what happened to you?" Zhu Jun Xiang was intensely curious about what had happened to Xian Wu last night—and even more curious whether Hu Yan Lan Ruo had really done that sort of thing to him.
With a face ashen, Xian Wu turned to Zhu Jun Xiang. "I went berserk while practicing the Seven Star Divine Curse last night. Do you believe me?"
"I... believe you!" Zhu Jun Xiang said with an awkward laugh, scratching his head. He had no idea how to comfort Xian Wu.
Still, Xian Wu's experience served as a warning. Until the instructor had fully explained the cultivation method, it was better not to practice it recklessly.
After pulling on his shabby cloak and tying a black face covering over his mouth, Xian Wu left with Zhu Jun Xiang.
Beginner Martial Artist Class.
Instructor Tie Kuang had arrived early. Wearing a thin tiger-striped vest, he leaned against the windowsill and silently watched the students enter the classroom.
When Xian Wu and Zhu Jun Xiang walked in, Tie Kuang froze.
That outfit... looked strangely familiar.
"Hold it. Which class are you in? Did you come to the wrong room?" Tie Kuang raised a burly arm to stop Xian Wu.
Zhu Jun Xiang hurriedly explained, "Instructor, he's Xian Wu, the class representative! You even took off his cloak and checked him before."
Tie Kuang scratched his head. He seemed to remember something like that.
"What happened to my class representative? He's wrapped up like a giant black dumpling." Tie Kuang asked in confusion.
Xian Wu gave Zhu Jun Xiang a look. Understanding, he explained, "Xian Wu caught a chill while practicing in the middle of the night. He's afraid of infecting everyone, so..."
Tie Kuang pressed a hand to his forehead, deeply disappointed in Xian Wu. "Class representative, you're such a wimp." He waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. Go sit down. You can skip the practical class."
When she heard Xian Wu had caught a chill, Xiao Ning'er's eyes lit up with delight. She was glad to see him get his comeuppance.
That's what you get for bullying me yesterday. The corners of Xiao Ning'er's mouth lifted slightly.
But why had his hair turned white last night? Had she imagined it?
Noticing Xiao Ning'er's gloating expression, Xian Wu rolled his eyes. They were classmates—didn't she have even a little sympathy?
He silently returned to his seat and waited for class to begin. He didn't even respond when Lu Piao spoke to him.
Lu Piao shrugged helplessly. The desk mate on his right only ever slept facedown on the desk, while the one on his left had wrapped himself up like a giant dumpling. Had either of them considered how he felt?
With an incense stick's worth of time remaining before class, all the students were seated in the classroom.
Just then, Vice Dean Ye Sheng walked in.
Xian Wu thought the old man had come to check on him, and almost stood up in excitement.
But when he saw a male student following Ye Sheng, he calmed down.
Could it be another transfer student?
As it turned out, he'd guessed right.
The handsome student, dressed in expensive clothes and sporting thick eyebrows and big eyes, had indeed come as a transfer.
"This student is Shen Yue, a member of the Sacred Family. Instructor Tie Kuang, find him a seat." Having said that, Vice Dean Ye Sheng turned to leave, but then suddenly spotted a giant black dumpling at the back of the classroom.
"What's going on with that student..." Ye Sheng asked, pointing at the black dumpling.
Tie Kuang hurriedly replied, "I nearly failed to recognize him myself this morning. He's Xian Wu. He caught a chill and was afraid..."
"Enough, I understand." Ye Sheng waved his hand, gave Xian Wu a meaningful look, then hurried out.
"Xian Wu..." Shen Yue murmured, rubbing his chin.
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