Opening the envelope, the letter inside was filled with a long string of flowery words welcoming new disciples to the Young Phoenix Academy. Baili Gelin muttered as she read: "They even tell us to treat this place as our new home... Hmph! A home wouldn't rob us under the excuse of meals! One tael per meal—they might as well just rob us outright!"
The other children didn't seem to mind. Ye Ye, while admiring the island scenery, said, "As long as we learn to fly early, we can fly to the northern islands and get food for free with our name tags. Stop complaining—we didn't come here to play anyway."
The children gathered at the island's entrance gradually dispersed, each heading to their own rooms. Soon, the chatter faded, leaving only the sound of wind in the courtyard—not even a bird's call or an insect's chirp could be heard. Standing there long enough, even the sound of one's own heartbeat became audible.
"It's so quiet here," Li Fei took a deep breath. This was where she would live for the next year, a place a hundred times more impressive than the wooden hut in Green Mound. Yet, for some reason, she found herself missing those simple, lonely days.
"I'm number eleven. What about you guys?" Baili Gelin waved her envelope, which bore the number "11" written in bright vermilion.
Ye Ye said, "What a coincidence—I'm ten. We should be in the same courtyard."
Baili Changyue revealed her envelope, which clearly displayed the number "12."
Each disciple room was part of a small courtyard with three main rooms, meaning three disciples typically shared one courtyard. With their numbers in sequence, they were bound to live together. Baili Gelin finally brightened up. "Sis! The three of us are together! How great!"
She then turned to Li Fei. "What's your number? And Xiu Yuan's? Huh? Where is Xiu Yuan?"
Only then did everyone realize Lei Xiuyuan had disappeared. He had always been so inconspicuous that no one noticed his absence until now.
"He probably wandered off alone," Li Fei said indifferently. "I'm number seven. Not sure if I'll be near you guys."
"Come on, let's go see what our rooms look like," Baili Gelin urged impatiently, pulling everyone toward the disciple quarters.
The disciple rooms on the island were arranged in a spiral pattern. The courtyard walls were snow-white, while the roof tiles were dark green. Vines and creepers covered the walls, and clusters of heavy wisteria blossoms hung outside the courtyards. Even before entering, the cool, exotic fragrance was enough to lift one's spirits.
Turning a corner, an exquisite wooden door appeared on the wall, carved with the numbers "7, 8, 9." Below each number was a line of smaller text: "7—Thousand Fragrance Chamber; 8—Kirin Chamber; 9—Quiet Mystery Chamber."
"Wow, each room has a name?" Baili Gelin exclaimed in delight. "Thousand Fragrance Chamber—Li Fei, your room's name sounds so lovely, like it's full of flowers!"
She eagerly pushed open the courtyard gate, only to find several people already inside. Hearing the noise, they all turned around, and both sides were equally surprised and displeased.
"Are you lost?" Ji Tongzhou found it unbelievable. How dare these lowly beggars barge into his courtyard? Though the other two rooms were meant for others, he had already claimed the entire courtyard as his own.
"You're the one who's lost," Li Fei retorted coldly, holding up her envelope. "I'm number seven. This room is mine."The eastern-facing room in the courtyard bore the inscription "Thousand Fragrance Chamber," which was the accommodation the Academy had arranged for her. However, the door was already open, and the stunningly beautiful Lan Ya Junzhu stood at the entrance, looking down at them with haughty disdain.
"I like the name of this room," she said, her voice as melodious as an oriole's song, soft and pleasing to the ear. Yet her tone was imperious, brimming with arrogance, as if issuing a command. "I want this room. You can choose another."
Li Fei replied calmly, "No. Please step out."
Lan Ya Junzhu's expression darkened. Conscious of her status, she refused to waste words on commoners and instead turned to Ji Tongzhou.
Ji Tongzhou was irritated. The idea of sharing a courtyard with this androgynous beggar was utterly unacceptable to him. But Li Fei was formidable, and given their shared experience during the Second Selection, he didn’t want to say anything too harsh. Still, as a prince, he couldn’t back down in front of his lady and his lackeys. After a moment’s thought, he declared, "I’ll take this entire courtyard. You all can find somewhere else to stay. I’ll compensate each of you with a thousand taels of silver."
A thousand taels—he was certain these paupers wouldn’t refuse.
Sure enough, even Baili Gelin was tempted. A thousand taels! That was enough to buy several houses larger and more beautiful than this one outside!
Li Fei remained unmoved. "I don’t need money. You—move aside." She tilted her chin toward Lan Ya Junzhu.
The princess, both furious and humiliated, cried softly, "Your Highness!"
Ji Tongzhou was enraged. How dare she refuse his generosity! Last time in Lu Gongzhen, he had been caught off guard, and she had ambushed him with a stone. But this time, he was sure he could handle her. Just as he was about to signal his lackeys to strike first and teach these insolent beggars a lesson, Li Fei cracked her knuckles loudly and strode straight toward Lan Ya Junzhu. The princess, terrified, had no choice but to flee from the doorway.
Li Fei entered the room to find several bundles piled on the table—likely the princess’s belongings. She picked them all up and tossed them outside, ignoring the livid expressions of Ji Tongzhou and his entourage, then waved to Baili Gelin and the others. "Come in."
Once the door was closed, Baili Gelin voiced her concern. "Li Fei, you’ve offended that little prince again. When we leave, you’ll be alone here, and they have so many people! Maybe we should just let the princess have this room?"
Li Fei shook her head. "I’ve already clashed with them before. If I give in now, there’ll just be a next time, and another after that."
Had she not stood up for Lei Xiuyuan in Lu Gongzhen, she might have yielded this time. But the feud was already set. Backing down now would be meaningless and only invite further contempt. Besides, she was no longer the useless Xiao Bangchui of the past—she was Jiang Li Fei of the Young Phoenix Academy, and from now on, she would hold her head high as a Celestial.
"The room smells wonderful," she remarked, glancing around. The space wasn’t large, its layout similar to the rooms in the courtyard of the Rainbow Deer Carriage. However, all the furniture was woven from rattan, and despite the scorching sun outside, the interior was pleasantly cool. Ivy climbed halfway up the window, and heavy clusters of wisteria hung from the eaves. Beneath the windowsill, a riot of colors bloomed—roses, four o’clocks, balsams—spreading in a vibrant profusion. When the breeze blew, the mingled fragrances intoxicated the senses. Thousand Fragrance Chamber—it lived up to its name."There's a mirror here." Baili Gelin picked up the bronze mirror from the bedside table. "There wasn't one in the carriage."
Noticing a sword hanging on the wall, Baili Changyue took it down and gently unsheathed it. The blade was dull and rough to the touch—it was actually a thin stone sword.
"Why would there be a sword made of stone?" Baili Gelin reached out to touch it. "Stone can't be sharpened. This must be decorative, right?"
"No." Baili Changyue shook her head. The sword was clearly worn, not from display—the hilt and scabbard bore obvious signs of frequent handling, likely from being used by Academy disciples in the past. Though its exact purpose remained unclear.
Ye Ye pondered for a moment. "Perhaps it was used for sword flying?"
"Flying isn't limited to swords alone," Baili Changyue said as she hung the sword back on the wall.
"The sword is the gentleman of weapons—sword flying is the most fundamental practice. Those Celestials who soar through the skies using various Mystical Treasures all start by learning sword flying. I've heard that the elders and disciples of Star Rectitude Hall never use Mystical Treasures—every one of them flies by sword. The more genuine a Celestial's Mystic Sword, the easier it is to gather spiritual energy, making it seamless to wield."
Just as Ye Ye was getting enthusiastic, Baili Changyue suddenly frowned and turned toward the window. The next moment, a commotion erupted in the courtyard outside. A boy's arrogant voice shouted, "You filthy beggar! How dare you barge into the Junzhu's chambers! I'll break your dog legs!"
A familiar voice muttered something indistinct, and Ji Tongzhou's furious roar exploded: "You've got some nerve! Get him! Beat him out of here!"
His lackeys immediately barked in chorus, emboldened by their master's authority: "Pound him!"
"Don't think entering the Academy will turn you into a dragon or phoenix! Take a piss and look at what you really are!"
Lei Xiuyuan's voice rose in panic, sounding utterly defenseless and even tearful: "B-but this is clearly my room... Why can't I enter?"
"Still talking back?!"
A splash of water followed, mixed with Lei Xiuyuan's startled cries. The group inside could no longer hold back and rushed out. They saw Ji Tongzhou and Lan Ya Junzhu standing coldly outside with their arms crossed, while his lackeys—one pummeling Lei Xiuyuan and others fetching water from the well to douse him—continued their assault.
Noticing the newcomers, Ji Tongzhou deliberately raised his voice: "Scrub harder! The stench of this beggar is unbearable!"
Infuriating.
Li Fei slammed the door shut behind her, cracking her knuckles. She first knocked down the boy gripping Lei Xiuyuan, then drove a punch straight into his nose, sending blood gushing and leaving him writhing on the ground.
At the sight of blood, the children panicked. The lackeys, having experienced her ferocity before, shrank back in fear as she effortlessly floored one of them. Ji Tongzhou kicked each of them in frustration. "Useless trash! You run faster than I do when trouble comes!"
Ignoring him, Li Fei helped Lei Xiuyuan up. Though he'd been pinned and beaten by the lackeys, his skin wasn't broken—just his face swollen and his clothes soaked. He was still sobbing, looking utterly wretched.
"Are you okay?" Li Fei wiped his face with her sleeve. "Come on, stay with me."
Lei Xiuyuan choked through his tears. "Big Sis... They... they took my room! I'm so useless... always needing your help..."Ji Tongzhou was already fuming at the thought of sharing a courtyard with two beggars, his anger boiling with no outlet. Hearing those words, he immediately sneered, "You know you're useless yet still dare to provoke me! Let me tell you, for every day you dare to stay here, I'll beat you until you don't dare to come back!"
Li Fei glared at him coldly. "I'll throw those words right back at you. If you dare lay a hand on him, I'll beat you until you can't stay here anymore!"
Ji Tongzhou felt like he was about to explode. He was furious, enraged, but he couldn't beat her. If only he could use a Curse Seal to burn her half to death! But the Academy rules forbade using Immortal Techniques or Mystic Arts for private fights. He couldn't break the rules on the very first day, could he?
"Big Sis, my room..." Lei Xiuyuan was still crying, tugging at her sleeve between sobs. Baili Changyue suddenly frowned and glanced at him, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Li Fei turned her cold gaze toward Lan Ya Junzhu. The princess was somewhat intimidated by her, and with the child who had been beaten until his nose bled still rolling on the ground wailing, the scene was downright terrifying. Tearfully, she went to the Quiet Mystery Chamber to retrieve her belongings, then turned to Ji Tongzhou and called out pitifully, "My Prince, Lan Ya... Lan Ya cannot stay in the courtyard with you. Please forgive me."
Ji Tongzhou grabbed her arm sharply. "You're not leaving! Today, I insist you stay here! That damned beggar! How dare you refuse?!"
Seeing the prince lose his temper, his lackeys immediately crowded around him to bolster his presence. Baili Gelin and the others weren't about to back down either, stepping forward and shouting, "You think you can still throw your weight around here like a prince? This is someone else's room—why should you get it?!"
For a moment, the two groups stood in a tense standoff in the courtyard, neither willing to yield. Ji Tongzhou stared fixedly at Li Fei, his hatred for this androgynous creature burning deep, yet he was also deeply wary of her. The scene of her shattering the Fox Demon with a single touch that day often flashed through his mind—what terrifying talent!
Since birth, everything had gone his way. Who wouldn't defer to him? Even the emperor showed him favor. Yet this little beggar had humiliated him publicly time and again. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Suddenly, he shoved Lan Ya aside and pulled a Curse Seal from his sleeve, poised to throw it.
Everyone gasped in shock—this little prince was truly too arrogant! This was the Academy! Using a Curse Seal on a fellow disciple? Did he want to be expelled?
A cold female voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard. "What is all this commotion?"
Ji Tongzhou felt an icy hand grip his wrist, forcing his fingers to loosen. The Curse Seal was swiftly snatched away.
It was the Black-veiled Woman. She had appeared out of nowhere, as elusive as ever.
Glancing at the Curse Seal, her voice grew even colder. "The Academy forbids private fights using Immortal Techniques or Mystic Arts. Violators will be expelled immediately. Didn't you know that?"
Ji Tongzhou was both furious and embarrassed, with a hint of belated fear. His ears turned red. "I didn't use it! Can't I just... take it out to look at?!"
The Black-veiled Woman scanned the courtyard. The ground was wet, with several overturned buckets. One child was rolling on the ground wailing, while another, drenched, was also crying. After a quick inspection, she found no evidence of a Curse Seal being used. With a cold snort, she tucked the seal into her own sleeve and declared, "Anyone who causes further disturbances will be expelled immediately! Everyone, return to your rooms!"Ji Tongzhou's face flushed red and then paled. He had suffered an irreparable humiliation, trembling with rage to the point where his legs shook. At this point, any words would be superfluous. Without a word, he turned and stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him and leaving the crowd outside. Seeing the situation turn sour, Ji Tongzhou's lackeys quickly retreated, dragging along the poor boy whose nose was still bleeding. Lan Ya Junzhu knocked on Ji Tongzhou's door for a long time, but there seemed to be no response from inside. With tears in her eyes, she shot Li Fei a venomous glare before leaving as well.
The farce finally came to an end. Baili Gelin and the others also took their leave to find their own courtyard. Lei Xiuyuan, still sniffling, was pushed into the room by Li Fei. She had wanted to ask where he had run off to earlier, but she couldn't stand his pitiful demeanor and couldn't think of any words of comfort. She simply tossed out a "Go wash your face" before leaving.
The courtyard returned to silence. After who knows how long, the door of the Quiet Mystery Chamber was suddenly knocked on softly. When the door opened, Baili Changyue stood at the threshold.
"Chang Yue?" Lei Xiuyuan looked at her timidly. "The boss is in the room to the east... Do you, do you need something?"
Baili Changyue gazed at him quietly and said in a low voice, "You went too far."
"...What do you mean?" He seemed frightened and utterly at a loss.
"Xiao Bangchui is a girl." She had always called Li Fei "Xiao Bangchui" and never changed the habit. "She's a good person. You shouldn't have done that. Why provoke them on purpose? Why not fight back yourself?"
Lei Xiuyuan hunched his shoulders as if shivering slightly. "What are you talking about... I... I wouldn't dare..."
Baili Changyue seemed to sigh but said nothing more before turning and walking away.
OpenNovel