Trump Card

Watching the people from Three Mountains City walk away, Lin Zhengren hadn't said anything yet, but his younger brother Lin Zhengli was already quite indignant: "Mountain barbarians have no manners!"

Lin Zhengren was leading the Wangjiang City delegation this time, while Lin Zhengli was participating as the representative of Wangjiang City Daoist Academy's first-year students.

Hearing this, Lin Zhengren only smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The Wangjiang City cultivators seated here all wore pearls and jade, their origins in Wangjiang City being nothing short of wealthy and noble, so they inevitably carried some spoiled habits. Even on Maple Forest City's turf, they spoke without restraint, cursing whoever they pleased.

"Once the debate starts, we'll have to teach them a lesson!"

"The Maple Forest City people aren't much either. I said I wanted to visit the Three-Part Fragrance Pavilion, and they just ignored me! So stingy!"

"Hahaha, they're poor. Look at that courtyard they put us up in—is that fit for people? They didn't even lay floor heating. The mattress was just ordinary silk floss!"

"Alas, what can you do about these penniless wretches? I've already sent my servants to buy supplies. We'll just make do for two days."

As the group grumbled, a voice suddenly spoke up: "What about Fu Baosong? He didn't come again?"

"Who cares about him!" Lin Zhengli sneered. "I don't know how the dean let him sneak in, sour and stinking."

Lin Zhengren gently set his wine cup down on the table, and Lin Zhengli immediately shut his mouth.

Lin Zhengren raised his chopsticks: "Eat."

The atmosphere immediately grew lively again.

Under Jiang Wang's urging, Jiang An'an returned all the treasure she'd earned from her classmates and said she wouldn't help them cheat on exams anymore. From now on, she'd take the tests properly, with style and results, to bring glory to the old Jiang family.

The condition was that she'd get an extra serving of Guixiang Studio pastries after every dinner.

Wasn't she afraid of losing her teeth!

While Ling He and the others were hosting the friends from Three Mountains City, Jiang Wang also finished his day's cultivation and came to Mingde Hall to pick up his little sister from school.

He had to admit, with the help of the Origin Control Technique, his control over Dao Essence was improving at a very noticeable rate. The most obvious sign was that he could now arrange formation points with ease and hadn't made a mistake in a long time.

On top of that, the Four Spirits Body Refining Technique's strengthening of his physical body had greatly increased the number of times he could practice Pulse-Opening. If he hadn't held back, he might have already succeeded in laying his foundation. But even without pushing his body's potential to the limit, he was still not far from foundation establishment.

After picking up Jiang An'an, just as they were about to go eat something good, a girl with her hair tied into countless little braids suddenly jumped in front of him.

She pointed a finger at Jiang Wang, very rudely: "Are you the one who won't let An'an play with me?"

Jiang Wang recognized her—this was the little troublemaker he'd seen that day at Mingde Hall with the old gentleman, a little girl who clearly grew up pampered.

Just the tiny pearls, jade beads, and emerald beads hanging from her braids alone showed her wealth.

Jiang Wang wasn't about to argue with a child: "Little friend, I only told An'an not to cheat with you, not to stop playing with you."

The braided girl snorted: "Then why did she give back all those treasures? Those were the tokens of our friendship!"

"Friendship can't be proven with money." Jiang Wang didn't have much patience for other people's kids, so he gave a perfunctory lesson and said, "Alright, An'an and I are going home now."

"No! You're not leaving until you explain clearly!" The braided girl spread her arms, blocking the way.

Jiang Wang had no choice but to pull out his trump card: "I'll tell your teacher, you know."

"You dare?" The braided girl angrily rolled up her sleeves. "Believe me, I'll beat you up?"

Before Jiang Wang could speak, Jiang An'an had already chimed in: "Qingzhi, if you hit my brother, I really won't play with you anymore!"

"Hey, don't. Then I won't hit him." The little girl named Qingzhi quickly rolled her sleeves back down.

Jiang Wang listened speechlessly. Could you even beat me if you tried? Little girl!

"I'll say it one more time, little friend. As long as you don't do bad things together—like cheating, skipping school, stuff like that—I won't stop An'an from playing with you. Got it? If you understand, wait here for your family to pick you up. An'an and I are going to have meatball soup now!"

Jiang An'an had originally wanted to say a few more words to her good friend, but the moment she heard they were going for soup, she lost all interest in talking and waved her hand repeatedly: "Goodbye, Qingzhi! See you tomorrow!"

The braided girl waved and stepped aside, and Jiang Wang carried Jiang An'an away with long strides.

Watching Jiang Wang's brisk retreating figure, she snorted again and muttered, "What's so great about you."

The Three Mountains City cultivators finally arrived at the small courtyard prepared for them by Maple Forest City Daoist Academy.

The moment the door closed, the black-clothed man, whom Maple Forest City's commoners regarded as a hidden Great Devil King, plopped down on the ground, his voice filled with grief and indignation: "Can we scatter now? We're already in Maple Forest City—where else could I run?"

Along the way, he'd tried a hundred ways to escape back to Three Mountains City, but every time he was caught. By the time they neared Maple Forest City, they'd even surrounded him as they entered.

The Three Mountains City cultivators all looked awkward at this, each staring at the sky or the ground, and two were examining each other's fingers. Not a single one moved.

The real Great Devil King bounced and hopped into the rooms, checking all six before hopping back into the courtyard. She pointed at the westernmost room. On both her wrists hung silver chains, each ending in a small silver hammer that swayed with her movements.

"Alright, go pick your rooms! That one's mine."

Everyone scattered at once.

"Sun Xiaopang!" Sun Xiaoman called out to Sun Xiaoyan, who was scrambling to his feet. "You're staying in the room next to mine!"

"I don't want to!" Sun Xiaoyan roared, but meeting Sun Xiaoman's gaze, his voice immediately dropped: "Can I not?"

"No, you can't." Sun Xiaoman blinked.

She had big, bright eyes, and when she blinked, it was like a stream reflecting moonlight.

But Sun Xiaoyan only wanted to tremble.

Sun Xiaoman trotted ahead with her hands clasped behind her back, the pair of silver hammer ornaments swinging left and right, occasionally clinking together with a crisp sound. "Little Fatty, come with big sis~"

Sun Xiaoyan followed reluctantly behind her, stepping into the room while whining pitifully, "Can you stop calling me Sun Little Fatty? I have a real name!"

"Sure thing, Sun Little Fatty." Sun Xiaoman turned around and waved carelessly. "Come on, sit here."

Sun Xiaoyan obediently sat down, his rolls of fat squishing the armchair to its limits.

Sun Xiaoman reached out and pulled down his hood, revealing his chubby face.

"Oh my, it's this swollen." When Sun Xiaoman wasn't being fierce, her voice was actually quite soft and cute.

Oh my god, she's actually caring about me. Sun Xiaoman's heart inexplicably felt warm.

But he snapped out of it immediately. Pfft!

He spat fiercely in his mind.

Sun Xiaoman took out a small jade bottle, pulled out the cork, and a wisp of fragrance drifted out.

She scooped up a bit of the translucent ointment with her pinky nail and gently pressed it onto Sun Xiaoyan's face, slowly spreading it with her fingertip.

Sun Xiaoyan didn't dare to resist; he sat motionless and accepted it. First a cool sensation spread across his face, then a feeling of comfort. All the sore spots seemed to ease instantly.

"All done!" After applying the medicine, Sun Xiaoman patted Sun Xiaoyan's big face. "Leave it on overnight, and the swelling should be gone by tomorrow."

A "thank you" almost slipped out of Sun Xiaoyan's mouth instinctively, but he bit it back.

Sun Xiaoman put away the small jade bottle and said with a smile, "Remember not to be so impulsive next time. It'd be so ugly if you messed up your face, and it'd embarrass Three Mountains City."

Who do you think hit me?!?

Sun Xiaoyan's heart was filled with grief and indignation, but he still forced a smile onto his face and said obediently, "Okay, big sis."