The Spirit Hall Golden Generation?

With every bit of recovery, the riverbed widened a little more.

The process was slow, but solid.

After night fell, Ji Ye opened his eyes.

A wave of Soul Power rippled around him.

He had broken through!

Level forty-three.

He lowered his head, looked at his hands, and clenched his fists.

Even with two Ultimate Martial Souls, his cultivation speed hadn't slowed in the slightest. If anything, it was even faster.

Gurgle...

His stomach suddenly growled.

Ji Ye rubbed his belly, then remembered that he'd only eaten two pieces of mung bean cake all day.

He was just about to get out of bed and find something to eat when a cautious voice came from the doorway.

"Master Ji? Are you awake?"

Ji Ye paused.

"I'm awake."

The door opened, and a maid entered carrying a tray.

On it were two dishes, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice. The dishes were still steaming, clearly fresh from the kitchen.

"You haven't eaten anything since this morning. We've been waiting outside the whole time, reheating the food every half hour."

Ji Ye looked at the bowl of rice, then raised his eyes to the maid.

She had a delicate, oval face, big eyes, and dimples when she smiled.

In his previous life, she'd have been star material.

At that moment, she was looking at him with an expectant expression.

Ji Ye did the math. Every half hour?

At least seven or eight hours had passed since he'd returned.

These maids had been waiting outside his room the whole time, just so he could have a hot meal when he woke up?

"Thank you," Ji Ye said earnestly.

The maid's face flushed at once.

"N-no need to thank me. It's our duty."

Ji Ye picked up the bowl and began eating.

The rice was perfectly steamed, each grain distinct, with a faint sweetness as he chewed.

There were braised pork ribs and stir-fried seasonal vegetables, along with mushroom soup. Everything tasted good.

He ate quickly, but neatly.

The maid stood to one side. At first, she'd only sneaked glances at him with her head bowed, but before long she was openly staring.

In the candlelight, Ji Ye's profile was sharply defined. His eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes, and his cheeks puffed slightly as he chewed. A little oil glistened on his lips.

The maid's lips parted slightly. Her gaze settled on Ji Ye's mouth, growing more and more intense.

Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth, and she didn't even notice.

Halfway through his meal, Ji Ye felt her scorching gaze and looked up at her.

"Want some?"

The maid jolted back to her senses and hurriedly shook her head.

"N-no."

"It's fine. Come eat with me. There's too much for me to finish on my own."

The maid shook her head again. Her face turned even redder than before, the flush spreading from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

She really didn't want to eat a meal.

What she wanted to eat wasn't food at all.

Ji Ye met her gaze. It took him a moment, then he got it.

Holy crap!

What this woman wanted to eat... was him?

The air fell silent for two seconds.

Ji Ye put down his chopsticks and picked up the soup bowl, taking a sip to hide his face behind it.

"Um... if there's nothing else, you can go now."

The maid's eyes dimmed at once.

"Yes."

She curtsied and turned to leave. When she reached the doorway, she glanced back once more.

Ji Ye was still holding the soup bowl in front of his face.

The maid sighed, went out, and gently closed the door behind her.

Ji Ye lowered the bowl and let out a long breath.

That was too dangerous.

Being handsome was too dangerous.

He looked down at his clothes: the dark blue student uniform, cinched tight at the waist.

Tomorrow, he'd wear something looser.

No, starting tomorrow, he'd wear his mask again.

He still looked handsome in it, but at least it covered half his face. That should keep him out of trouble.

Ji Ye finished the rest of the food, then sat back down on the bed.

Ji Ye closed the door and sat back down on the bed.

The next day.

By the time Ji Ye woke up, it was already bright outside.

He'd used up too much energy the day before and had overslept.

He sat up and stretched. His Soul Power circulated through his body, and he felt great.

He got out of bed, put on his shoes, went to the door, and opened it.

"You're awake."

Ji Ye was instantly speechless.

Why was someone waiting outside for him to wake up every single day?

He rubbed his eyes, about to say, "Just leave breakfast on the table."

But the words caught in his throat.

The person standing outside wasn't a maid.

There were three of them.

Two men and a woman, all a little older than him—around fifteen or sixteen.

One had red hair, one gray, and one brown.

The redhead was the tallest and sturdily built, his arms crossed over his chest and his chin held high. An innate arrogance shone in his eyes.

The gray-haired one wore his hair loose over his shoulders. His expression was calmer, and he toyed with a short blade in his hand.

The brown-haired one was a woman. She had long brown hair, delicate features, and a stunning figure. She wore a tight-fitting combat suit that showed off every curve.

Ji Ye knew who they were without even thinking.

The Spirit Hall Golden Generation.

The redhead was Yan, the gray-haired one was Xie Yue, and the brown-haired one was Hu Liena.

The three of them stood in a row, all staring at him.

Before Ji Ye could speak, Yan spoke first.

"You're Ji Ye?"

His voice was loud and condescending, making him deeply unpleasant.

Ji Ye glanced at him and said nothing.

Then his gaze shifted to Hu Liena, looking her up and down.

He had to admit, the woman had quite a figure.

She was far too well-developed for someone who was only fifteen or sixteen. She had all the right curves, and her proportions were excellent.

And her face, too—delicate features, slightly full lips, and a natural air of seduction.

Bah, no—of allure.

It didn't look like something she'd put on deliberately. It seemed to come from deep within her.

Ji Ye looked a couple of times more.

Yan's face darkened at once.

This guy was ignoring him, and he was looking at Nana like that?

Nana was his woman!

"I'm talking to you!" Yan stepped forward.

"You're the guy who fought Worshipper Jiang Mo in the plaza?"

Ji Ye finally pulled his gaze away from Hu Liena and looked at Yan.

"Who are you?"

Yan's mouth twitched.

"I'm Yan, one of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation—"

"Never heard of you."

Yan's face turned completely dark.

He clenched his fist. Soul Power burst over his body, and the stone slabs beneath his feet gave a dull thud.

Xie Yue reached out and stopped him.

"Yan, calm down." Xie Yue's voice was quiet but steady.

He turned to Ji Ye, his tone much more polite.

"Brother Ji Ye, I'm Xie Yue, and this is my younger sister, Hu Liena. This is Yan."

"On the orders of His Holiness the Pope, the three of us have come to spar with you."

Ji Ye's head began to ache.

Just as he'd expected.

News of the fight yesterday had reached Bibi Dong's ears. That woman really couldn't sit still.

A spar?

That was a nice way to put it.

Didn't she just want to test his strength?

Ji Ye waved a hand.

"I'm busy. Maybe next time."

Yan immediately took offense.

"Kid, you don't even listen to His Holiness the Pope?"

"Get this straight: this is Spirit Hall, and His Holiness the Pope's word is an order!"

Ji Ye glanced at him disdainfully.

"What hall is this?"

Yan paused.

"...The Worship Hall."

"Who does the Worship Hall answer to?"