Xiao Ning'er had a green Sea of Soul. During the freshman assessment, her Soul Force had reached 78, the highest score among all the new students.
No one thought the instructor would move her seat, but today, he did.
The new student, Shen Yue, whispered a few words into Instructor Tie Kuang's ear. The instructor hesitated, but eventually nodded.
"Everyone in the row by the windows, move back one seat," Tie Kuang ordered in a booming voice.
Xian Wu, Zhu Jun Xiang, and the other students rose one after another. No one dared question the instructor's decision.
"The new guy sure has some nerve, getting the instructor to move everyone in our row," Zhu Jun Xiang grumbled under his breath. Reluctantly, he sat in Xian Wu's old seat.
Xian Wu nodded in agreement. "No kidding. He's got an even bigger ego than Ye Ziyun." When Ye Ziyun had arrived, only one person had to move. This guy, on the other hand, had moved a fifth of the class.
He picked up his things and sat in the very last row.
His new seat was almost against the wall, cramped and narrow.
Everyone thought Instructor Tie Kuang would put the new student, Shen Yue, in the first seat by the window. But instead...
"Xiao Ning'er, pack up your things and move to the seat by the window in the first row." Tie Kuang's voice was gentle, but his tone left no room for argument.
Shen Yue was a direct descendant of the Sacred Family, and most of the Iron Gate Family's businesses depended on the Sacred Family. Tie Kuang couldn't afford to offend their young master, so he had no choice but to do as Shen Yue asked.
At Tie Kuang's words, Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun both froze.
Xiao Ning'er bit her lip, unwilling to change seats.
First Shen Fei of the Sacred Family, and now another one of them, Shen Yue. The Sacred Family was just too damn bullying!
Seeing that Xiao Ning'er still hadn't moved, Shen Yue walked over, tapped her desk, and smiled. "Future sister-in-law, didn't you hear the instructor tell you to move? Over there, in the first row by the window. It has a lovely view."
Before Xiao Ning'er could reply, Ye Ziyun slammed her hand on the desk and stood up.
"Shen Yue, Ning'er doesn't want to change seats. Don't force her. I'll switch with you." With that, Ye Ziyun started to leave her seat.
Suddenly, Xiao Ning'er grabbed her hand and stood up.
Ye Ziyun's pretty face flushed. Ning'er had finally made the first move...
"No need!" Xiao Ning'er said coldly and softly. Holding her stationery, she passed Ye Ziyun and sat in the seat by the window.
Sitting with someone from the Sacred Family was better than dying.
Once Xiao Ning'er was seated, Shen Yue put on a false show of concern. "Future sister-in-law, if you really don't want to change seats, you don't have to. You don't need to accommodate me." He circled around to Ye Ziyun's desk, but still hadn't taken his seat.
Xiao Ning'er shot Shen Yue a glare, snorted, and looked out the window.
The words "future sister-in-law" were like a sharp, poisonous thorn, stabbing her heart until it bled.
She would change her fate through her own efforts. She would never marry a scumbag like Shen Fei.
Even if it killed her!
Looking at Xiao Ning'er's shapely figure, Shen Yue narrowed his eyes. He wondered what good fortune his useless older brother had earned in a past life to get engaged to such a stunning beauty.
As he brushed past Ye Ziyun's back and took his seat, Shen Yue caught a faint orchid fragrance.
Zi Yun, I only humbled myself to come study at Sacred Orchid Academy for your sake. I'll make you fall in love with me, Shen Yue thought to himself.
"Instructor, what about me? Change my seat, too!" From the very back row, the noble student whose seat Ye Ziyun had taken raised his hand and called out.
Tie Kuang rubbed his chin. It really wasn't appropriate for a noble student to sit in the last row.
He swept his gaze across the classroom and immediately spotted the seat with Zhang Ming's huge eyes.
"You and Zhang Ming switch seats," Instructor Tie Kuang said with a smile. "Zhang Ming, you can pick any of the three seats in the back row. Sit wherever you like."
Clutching his stationery, Zhang Ming nearly burst into tears. No matter which one he chose, it would still be in the last row.
Damn it, what bad luck!
After the little seating shuffle, Tie Kuang restored order in the class and began the lesson in earnest.
For personal reasons, Xian Wu didn't attend the second practical lesson.
It wasn't until lunch, while getting food, that he learned from Zhu Jun Xiang that Shen Yue had taken over his class-representative position.
"That Shen Yue again!" Xian Wu glared.
The class representative position wasn't all that important, but having someone take it away from him still felt awful.
So, Shen Yue? Sacred Family, huh? I'll remember this grudge. Just you wait!
At noon, the sun blazed overhead.
Standing outside the classroom in the scorching sun, Xian Wu diligently practiced the Six Character Mantra.
Although Vice Dean Ye Sheng had warned him not to practice the Seven Star Divine Curse, he hadn't told him not to practice the Six Character Mantra.
The Six Character Mantra was a body-tempering technique, and his body hadn't reacted strangely when he'd practiced it before, so Xian Wu wasn't worried.
He left his tattered cloak in the classroom. He wanted to see whether ultraviolet rays could clear up the bruises on his body.
A little while later, Xiao Ning'er entered the classroom with graceful steps, her expression gloomy.
Unexpectedly, this time she didn't close the window.
Xiao Ning'er leaned on the windowsill, propping her chin on her hand. Her deep, clear eyes brimmed with curiosity as she asked, "Why's your face red?"
"I'm glowing with health."
"Then why's your hair white, too?"
"I waxed it because it's cold."
"And the bruises on your face..."
"Are you done yet? Can't you see I'm practicing, Bochi?"
"Waaah..."
Suddenly, Xiao Ning'er covered her face with both hands and began to sob.
Seeing the pretty girl he'd scolded cry, Xian Wu was at a loss.
"D-don't cry, my dear lady! Anyone who didn't know better would think I was trying to pull your pants down again." Xian Wu hurried over to the window and tried to comfort her in a soft voice.
The more he tried to comfort her, the worse it got. Xiao Ning'er cried even harder, like a pear blossom in the rain, like a river bursting its banks.
"Stop crying, or I'll take my pants off." When gentle words didn't work, Xian Wu decided to try a tougher approach.
But Xiao Ning'er wouldn't respond to either threats or sweet talk. Her eyes were like a dam with its floodgates open, tears pouring out in torrents.
Xian Wu figured Xiao Ning'er was crying so bitterly because of the Sacred Family and that bastard Shen Yue.
Ever since she was little, Xiao Ning'er had known that her family wanted to marry her off to the Sacred Family—to Shen Fei.
As she grew older, she gradually learned what kind of person Shen Fei was. She didn't want to marry that playboy who was always chasing women.
So she practiced desperately, hoping to escape this cruel fate.
She'd thought that she could temporarily get away from her family's scheming and the Sacred Family's harassment by studying at Sacred Orchid Academy. But who would've thought... The Sacred Family had followed her all the way into the junior martial class.
The pressure bore down on her like a mountain, and Xiao Ning'er could hardly breathe.
For some reason, though, facing Xian Wu made her feel inexplicably at ease.
Even though he was a shameless bastard.
Her emotions suddenly broke loose, and she couldn't stop them. Xiao Ning'er had lost control.
Xian Wu's voice suddenly vanished from beside her. Through tear-filled eyes, Xiao Ning'er looked up.
That guy had actually gone back to practicing as if nothing had happened.
Bastard! You're such a bastard!
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