Shi Qingfeng

After paying their respects to the ancestral statue, the more than 1,000 newly admitted disciples were settled in a bamboo grove.

There were many houses here, and new disciples initially all lived in this place.

Bai Yixin had no objections, but after only a few days, an elder came looking for him and took him away.

Those like Bai Yixin, who had performed astonishingly in the Second Battlefield, were all snapped up within a few days.

Their new residence was a spiritual land, with lofty peaks and verdant valleys shrouded in mist. It was exceptionally suited for cultivation, far better than the lodgings of ordinary disciples.

"This one will do."

Having just arrived, Bai Yixin knew nothing about the rules of his new surroundings. He casually picked a place far from the crowds and settled in, planning to move later if there were any requirements.

Bai Yixin chopped down a few bamboo stalks outside and made a bamboo bed. He laid several thick Beast Skins over it as a mattress. It was a little crude, but comfortable enough to sleep on.

"Crack."

Bai Yixin warmed up a little, preparing to have a lively exchange with the other friendly residents.

Nothing was more spirited than trading punches.

"This place is called Lu Ben now... Ahem, starting today, I'm the boss here!"

"Oh, so this is the specially recruited genius who got in with a Rune token? That's all you've got? What a disappointment!" A boy in gray pointed at a bruised and battered boy on the ground and burst into laughter.

"Heh. Who knows how a guy like that even got into the Heaven-Mending Pavilion?" The blue-clad boy beside him spoke with utter disdain.

"He's a specially recruited student. Who knows how many resources his family spent to get a Rune token and send this piece of trash in?" another blue-clad boy sneered.

On the ground, the bruised and battered boy kept his head down and said nothing. He knew these people had come specifically to bully him.

They came to harass him every day, making unreasonable demands to spar. They wanted to wear him down with injuries and wait for him to be kicked out, so someone from their faction could take his place.

That was because the Genius Camp had a rule: if someone made no progress after staying there for a long time, they would be eliminated and replaced by someone from outside.

"Bullying?"

Bai Yixin glanced at the boy being bullied. He was delicate and pretty, and looked so frail that he seemed easy to pick on. He also seemed a little slow. He didn't even know to find others to stick together with when he was being bullied. Judging by how he wasn't fighting back, this probably wasn't the first time.

"Oho, quite a lively scene. Mind letting me join in?"

Coming across injustice, drawing one's blade to help?

No. He was simply looking for some amusement.

Bai Yixin didn't help just anyone who was being bullied. First, the person being bullied had to be worth helping.

It might sound a little heartless, but that was just how the world was. The warmth and coldness of human nature were something each person had to learn for themselves.

Rather than question the three bullies, Bai Yixin preferred to ask the boy they were picking on. Showing kindness was often more effective than using force.

"Who are you?" The gray-clad boy, Zhou Yuhao, watched the youth walking toward them with a hint of surprise.

"Oh? Are you here to meddle, or to join us?"

"Join you little punks? Don't make me laugh! Heh." Bai Yixin looked at them with disdain.

"You aren't worthy of knowing my name."

"You've got quite the nerve. Then come spar with us and let's see if you're as good as your mouth!"

Runes surged from the gray-clad boy's body. He called to the two blue-clad boys, and the three of them charged at Bai Yixin together.

"Hoho, you dare come at me?" Bai Yixin looked at the three boys. Each had only one Heaven Cave hovering above his head, yet they were still this arrogant. Heh, they must have gotten carried away from ganging up on people every day!

Today, he'd show them that no matter how many people there were, it was all useless against an overwhelming gap in strength.

Bai Yixin's figure flashed, and he vanished from the three boys' sight.

Just seeing that speed was enough to tell Zhou Yuhao and the other two that they had picked a fight with the wrong person.

"Wait... Aah!"

Before the words had even left their mouths, a tremendous force erupted from each of their backsides, sending all three shooting skyward like skyrockets.

"Three rookies. One kick each was all you were worth."

Bai Yixin shook his head. He wondered if the Genius Camp had any formidable characters. They couldn't all be the sort who only bullied the weak and feared the strong, could they?

"Thank you. My name is Shi Qingfeng. Thank you for helping me."

Shi Qingfeng, bruised and battered, stared blankly at Bai Yixin, who had suddenly come to his aid. A trace of gratitude welled up in his heart, and he thanked him sincerely.

"Shi Qingfeng? Why does that sound familiar? Oh, right—you're that stand-in for Little One." Bai Yixin thought it over and vaguely remembered. He wasn't a particularly important character; later on, he took Little One's place and became the Stone Emperor.

"My name is Bai Yixin. I only saved you because I wanted to ask you a few things. No need to thank me."

Bai Yixin waved a hand as he spoke.

"Bai Yixin, Brother Bai, Brother Little White?" Shi Qingfeng was stunned. Why was that name the same as the one his big brother was always talking about—Brother Little White?

Could it be...

"Brother Little White? Are you the Brother Little White my big brother is always talking about?" Shi Qingfeng asked uncertainly.

"Mm. If there isn't another Brother Little White, then that's me. You're the stand-in who suffered in Little One's place, right? 'A long cry at the Heavenly Gate, and a thousand miles of clear breeze come.' Qingfeng—what a good name!" Seeing that the word "stand-in" seemed to sadden Shi Qingfeng, Bai Yixin patted his shoulder and said with a smile.

"Since you're Little One's little brother, you're my little brother too. Call me Brother Bai, and I'll look after you."

"Yes, Brother Bai!"

Seeing that Bai Yixin didn't look down on him, Shi Qingfeng answered happily.

"Here, take this. Those rookies really hit you in nasty places. Why are they picking on you?" Bai Yixin handed Shi Qingfeng a bottle of medicinal powder.

"Thank you, Brother Bai. They come to bother me every day and won't let my injuries heal. They want to wear me down, so I'll make no progress in my cultivation for a long time and get kicked out. Then someone from their faction can take my place." Shi Qingfeng had a large bruise on his face, but it healed quickly after he applied the medicinal powder.

Bai Yixin patted away some Runes the three had left in Shi Qingfeng's wounds and said,

"Come on. I'll take you to demand justice and show them who the boss is around here!"

"But, Brother Bai, they have a genius from the Rain Clan backing them. He's a really terrifying person. Will it be all right if we beat them up?" Shi Qingfeng asked worriedly.

"The Rain Clan? You mean the Rain Clan from the Stone Kingdom, right? Don't worry, Qingfeng. The Rain Clan is nothing. As long as I follow the rules here in the Heaven-Mending Pavilion, I'd beat Shi Yi too!"

Bai Yixin was full of confidence and feared nothing.

"Come on. Take me to beat them up. Let's see what those so-called geniuses can do!"