Master of Kaidan
Chapter 216: The Strange Increase in Labels

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: The Strange Increase in Labels

Listening to Feng Xue’s words, Liu Qi fell into silence. He really wanted to promise that he could persist, but he felt that words alone were empty. Immediately after, he heard Feng Xue continue,

"Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to belittle you. In fact, it’s precisely because such purity is hard to maintain consistently that it’s all the more precious. If you can keep it up, what’s wrong with letting you be the next Sect Leader?"

"Sure, I can definitely hold on!" Liu Qi nodded vigorously, like an office worker dazzled by the boss’s future promises, but Feng Xue just laughed and said,

"Don’t speak too confidently. We are not short of strength and technique, but the heart and intent must be dug out by yourself. If you can’t even withstand a little unusual gaze, then you’d better give up early."

"Ah, this..." Liu Qi was at a loss for words because of what Feng Xue said and then he suddenly remembered something horrifying—

Did he forget to update his writing last night?!

Shit, would anyone believe if I said I had a breakthrough in my martial arts cultivation last night and that’s why I didn’t update?

With this thought, Liu Qi maintained his horse stance, pulled out his laptop from his luggage, and started typing with one hand while holding the computer with the other. The whole scene looked incredibly absurd, and even Feng Xue almost burst out laughing.

However, as they chatted, the roadside that originally had only sparse light from passing vehicles on a nearby bridge began to brighten with street lamps. Feng Xue threw the water ball, which was continually rippling, back into the river and began practicing a set of punches that were less conspicuous.

This was not a technique derived from the Supreme Martial Arts secret manual, but one Feng Xue had created himself by analyzing the existing boxing techniques with the "Martial Arts Principle," simplifying, refining, and stripping away various complex concepts and characteristics to develop a "Basic Boxing" technique.

Although the techniques were rudimentary, they were easy to learn, and once one grasped this martial arts form, it could integrate with any other technique in the world, thus serving as a versatile foundation that could evolve into different forms according to one’s circumstances.

It was Feng Xue’s attempt and also a summation of his understanding of martial arts.

Liu Qi, who was typing, heard a whooshing sound by his ears and couldn’t help but look up. He saw his master practicing a set of punches with a strong presence. Though the movements reminded him somewhat of military calisthenics and aerobics, lacking the Handsome flair of martial arts routines and not even as smooth as the Tai Chi practiced by the elderly in the parks, Liu Qi’s recent "Beauty of Life" enlightenment delivered a sharp perception of danger, allowing him to sense the dangerous aspects in each of Feng Xue’s movements.

Turning on the video recording function on his phone, Liu Qi shifted his attention back to typing. While the new book was well received, he still needed the old one to cover living expenses. Although he now’sourced food, clothing, shelter, and transportation from nature, and his master took care of a few expenses, he always made sure to send some money home every month, both to show filial piety and to keep his parents at ease.

If his parents knew that he quit his job to write books and travel for martial arts training, they would likely haul him back to the countryside to farm.

"The rhythm is off," Feng Xue’s voice suddenly rang in Liu Qi’s ears. Pulled from his reverie, he immediately became alert, quickly adjusting his breathing and balancing his stance to enter the correct posture.

...

In West City’s Third Experimental High School, the original morning reading time had turned into a review session. Teachers wrote problems on the blackboard while students fervently scribbled down their answers below.

Of course, there were always some students who were less disciplined, but with the final exams approaching, as long as they didn’t disturb others, the teachers generally couldn’t be bothered to say much more.

"Ding-dong ding-dong~~ Ding-dong ding-dong~~"

The bell signifying the end of morning reading rang, and many students stretched themselves with gusto or gulped down bitter beverages like tea or coffee to wake themselves up. Only a few, those with either very good or very poor grades, were composed enough to keep doing their own things, and there were groups chatting, as well as some who immediately fell asleep. Within the small confines of the classroom was a microcosm of the diverse states of human existence.

Chen Xiyao belonged to a category all her own; she was in better spirits than most of her somewhat weary classmates, even looking "energetic and full of life." She gracefully stood up, walked out of the classroom, leaned against the railing in the corridor, took out her phone, and began texting, with a dreamy smile occasionally crossing her face.

"Xiyao, you really seem to be taking it easy!" a voice called out from beside her, making Chen Xiyao jump. Instinctively, she wanted to shove her phone into her chest, but then she relaxed and turned her head, saying,

"That’s kind of startling, you know!"

"You were just too absorbed," retorted the girl with the ponytail who appeared by Chen Xiyao’s side. She glanced enviously at Chen Xiyao’s phone and said with a hint of complaint,

"It must be nice to do as you please just because your grades are good! The teacher doesn’t even care if you play with your phone!"

"..." Chen Xiyao’s lips twitched twice, but in the end, she didn’t utter the words "This has nothing to do with studying." Instead, after glancing at WeChat and seeing no new replies from Feng Xue, she pocketed her phone and leaned back on the railing, replying,

"Your grades aren’t much worse than mine, you know!"

"Much worse, okay? I wake up early and stay up late, sleep only four hours a day, drinking coffee like water just to maintain my ranking. Not like you, who can be number one in the whole grade by just casually flipping through your books and listening in class... Look at how energetic you are; you probably don’t even know what West Capital City looks like at two o’clock in the morning. And you even have time to date!"

The ponytailed girl’s tone was filled with envy, but Chen Xiyao felt as if her armor had been pierced and her face flushed immediately:

"Da-dating? That’s not it at all!"

"Protesting too much just shows you’re hiding something. Who in the class doesn’t know about your puppy love? All day long, you’re sneakily glancing at your phone if you’re not busy with something else. If it’s not puppy love, are you chatting with your family instead?"

"..." Chen Xiyao was at a loss for words and chose to remain silent.

Seeing Chen Xiyao’s lack of response, the ponytailed girl assumed she was acquiescing and felt a gossipy satisfaction in her heart, while also muttering to herself curiously,

"I wonder what kind of handsome guy could have swept you off your feet..."

"I..." Just as Chen Xiyao was about to say something, her phone vibrated. Her expression immediately turned awkward, but she pulled out her phone, tapped on the notification from WeChat, and there it was—a message popping up before her eyes—

"My ’rumored girlfriend,’ can you tone it down a bit? That ’guy in the Mercedes’ thing was outrageous enough, and now what’s this ’handsome guy’? Seriously, what on earth do people around you think I am? Sure, I want to be remembered, but not like this!"

"Ah, this..."