A Word is a Pact

"Meanwhile, Bajie was having a rough time over here..."

In the clearing before the woods, Lu Ming was telling his story with great gusto.

Being able to exchange for the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms without spending any cultivation resources—of course he would agree to such terms.

Today, Feng Qingzhu seemed to have let her guard down a little too. As she listened, she even cracked a smile from time to time.

Her bright eyes and white teeth framed a face of stunning beauty. Her usual aloof, frosty demeanor had somewhat masked her charm, but now that she was smiling, a strange feeling stirred in Lu Ming's heart.

This girl actually looks pretty good when she smiles, Lu Ming mused to himself.

"Feng Qingzhu and Lu Ming—when did they get so close?"

Not far away, Liu Yiyi stood gracefully under the eaves of a building, watching the two who seemed to be chatting and laughing in front of the woods. She furrowed her brows slightly.

For some reason, seeing this scene made a flicker of discomfort pass through her heart.

Chen Feng stood beside her, smiling as he said:

"I heard they've been coming here every day lately to spar."

"These past few days, besides sparring, they've been chatting every day. Today, they're talking for an especially long time."

Liu Yiyi felt a bit annoyed and pouted: "Qingzhu is usually so cold and aloof. I didn't expect she had her own little schemes."

"She spars with Lu Ming every day, so she must have known his strength long ago—known he had the ability to break into the top three."

"And yet she didn't tell me, so I could prepare in advance."

"Now, Lu Ming has been recruited by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and her relationship with him just happens to be getting better at the perfect time."

"Hmph, I just don't get it. Even if Lu Ming wins the Red Token, he's only in the top three of a minor trial. Why would the Heavenly Secret Pavilion suddenly recruit him?"

"Mind you, with Brother Chen's genius, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion didn't even bat an eye!"

Hearing this, a trace of jealousy rose in Chen Feng's heart, and his face darkened.

He hadn't expected the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to recruit Lu Ming, even going so far as to reprimand Shen Changfeng and suppress Guo Zhengwei for his sake!

With the Heavenly Secret Pavilion backing him, Lu Ming could move freely through the city, and no one would dare assassinate him anymore.

But this time, in order to lock in a spot at a Third-Rate Sect early, he had sent Chen Jinyang to deal with Lu Ming, creating a blood feud between them.

This news was extremely unfavorable for him.

He glanced at Liu Yiyi beside him and thought to himself, The best course now is to win over the neutral Flying Dragon Martial Hall and let Zhou Zhen's faction take the lead as soon as possible.

That way, by rendering great service, I can earn more rewards and cultivate faster.

In the martial world, strength ultimately reigns supreme.

Though the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had recruited Lu Ming, they wouldn't move against him for Lu Ming's sake.

As long as he remained stronger than Lu Ming, he had no need to fear him.

In fact, if he could eliminate Lu Ming openly in competition, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion wouldn't strike him down for a fallen genius either.

With this in mind, Chen Feng smiled faintly at Liu Yiyi and said:

"The situation is complicated now. As they say, a just cause gains much support, an unjust one little. Though Lu Ming has the backing of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, he's offended the mainstream powers in the city."

"Once he fails to sustain his progress and loses his reputation as a genius, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion won't protect him anymore."

"The next Red Token competition will surely be fiercer. There might even be ambushes along the way."

"Given Lu Ming's lack of allies, it's hard to say if he'll make it through. With his shallow foundation, one wrong move and he loses everything."

"As for me, I've already secured an invitation from Senior Zhou and locked in a spot as a Lingyun Sect disciple."

"Yiyi, according to Senior Zhou, one of his purposes in coming to Red Cloud County is to scout for exceptionally talented disciples for the Lingyun Sect."

"I'm planning to recommend you to Senior Zhou and Brother Shen as a Lingyun Sect disciple. Then we can be fellow disciples again."

Liu Yiyi's face lit up with surprise: "Is that true? I... I can become a Lingyun Sect disciple too?"

Chen Feng smiled: "Yiyi, don't sell yourself short. In my view, your loss to Lu Ming in the last trial was largely due to luck."

"If Lu Ming had broken through just a little slower, today's outcome would never have happened."

"Since Lu Ming can be recruited by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, you're not far behind."

"Therefore, you're more than qualified to become a Lingyun Sect disciple."

Hearing this, Liu Yiyi said joyfully: "Without Brother Chen's recommendation, I probably wouldn't have gotten this chance. If I really do become a Lingyun Sect disciple, I'll have to thank you properly."

Chen Feng shook his head: "I'm just speaking the truth. Well, I have things to do, so I'll take my leave."

With that, he bid farewell and left.

"Brother Chen, go slowly." Liu Yiyi responded and was about to leave as well, when she suddenly saw that in the clearing before the woods, Feng Qingzhu had started teaching Lu Ming martial arts.

"Is that... the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms?" A look of disbelief appeared in Liu Yiyi's eyes.

She never imagined that Feng Qingzhu would actually teach Lu Ming the technique she had created herself.

This was simply impossible. Even when Li Youning had asked Feng Qingzhu to teach her before, she had refused.

"Could it be that she's secretly given her heart to Lu Ming?" Liu Yiyi's thought flashed. No, she couldn't let Feng Qingzhu keep sinking deeper.

Chen Feng had just subtly hinted that during the next Red Token scramble, Lu Ming might be intercepted and blocked.

In this kind of competition, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion wouldn't intervene.

If Lu Ming slipped up even a little, he'd easily lose his genius title and be kicked out by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Then Shen Changfeng would definitely not let Lu Ming go.

If Feng Qingzhu got too entangled with Lu Ming, wouldn't she be in danger too?

She hurried over.

Seeing her approach, the two stopped their instruction and turned to look.

Liu Yiyi shot a cold glance at Lu Ming, then said to Feng Qingzhu:

"Qingzhu, how could you teach him the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms too? Don't get too involved with him—it won't do you any good."

Feng Qingzhu, holding her green bamboo, frowned at Liu Yiyi, who had suddenly walked over and said this inexplicable thing. "That's none of your business."

Liu Yiyi's face froze, her breathing quickened slightly, her chest heaving as she said:

"We've known each other for years, we're friends—how can you say it's none of my business?

"I'm saying this for your own good.

"Are you going to stop treating me as a friend just for Lu Ming?

"If you won't even listen to a friend's heartfelt advice, then there's no need for us to be friends anymore."

Feng Qingzhu's expression didn't change. "It's a deal."

Liu Yiyi hadn't expected Feng Qingzhu to say something like that. Her face shifted. She looked at Feng Qingzhu, then at the innocent-faced Lu Ming beside her. Her complexion alternated between pale and red as she said:

"Fine, fine!"

Burning with shame and anger, she turned and left.

Feng Qingzhu withdrew her gaze without even glancing at her.

Lu Ming showed an apologetic expression. "Sorry, I made you quarrel with your friend. How about we find a more secluded place to teach?"

Feng Qingzhu said, "The Li family used to be the leading neutral force in Red Cloud County. She called Youning a friend too. Actually, we were never really friends."

Lu Ming understood. So that was it.

Then a strange feeling stirred in his heart—Feng Qingzhu had actually explained this to him.

In the past, Feng Qingzhu wouldn't have explained such things to him.