After opening the envelope, they found a long string of flowery words written across the paper, all welcoming the new disciples to Chufeng Academy.
Baili Gelin read while muttering, “They even tell us to treat this place like our new home… Hmph. A home wouldn’t use food as an excuse to rob people! One tael of silver for one meal? They might as well just go rob people directly!”
The other children were not too bothered. Ye Ye looked over the scenery of the island and said, “As long as we learn to fly early, we can fly to the northern island and use our name plaques to get food for free. Stop nagging. We didn’t come here to play.”
The children gathered in front of the island gradually dispersed, each going to find their rooms. For a while, human voices faded away. In front of the courtyard, there was only the sound of wind. Not even birdsong or insects could be heard. After standing there for a long time, even the sound of one’s own heartbeat seemed clearly audible.
“It’s so quiet here,” Li Fei said, taking a deep breath.
This was the place she would live for the next year. It was far more impressive than the wooden house in Qingqiu, but for some reason, she still missed those poor and lonely days.
“I’m number eleven. What about you?” Baili Gelin waved her envelope. A large “Eleven” was written on it in cinnabar.
Ye Ye said, “What a coincidence. I’m ten. We should be living in the same courtyard.”
Baili Changyue showed her envelope. It was clearly marked “Twelve.”
Each small courtyard in the disciple quarters had three large rooms, meaning three disciples usually shared one courtyard. Numbers connected like this were naturally assigned to the same courtyard. Baili Gelin finally became happy.
“Sister! The three of us are living together! That’s great!”
She then moved closer to Li Fei. “What number are you? What about Xiuyuan? Huh? Where is Xiuyuan?”
Only then did everyone realise Lei Xiuyuan had disappeared somewhere. He had always had little presence, so they only noticed now that he was gone.
“He probably went to look around by himself,” Li Fei said, not too concerned. “I’m seven. I don’t know if I’m close to you.”
“Come on, come on, let’s go see what our rooms look like.” Baili Gelin impatiently dragged everyone towards the disciple quarters.
The disciple quarters on the island were arranged in a spiral. The courtyard walls were as white as snow, while the roof tiles were blue-black. The walls were covered in all kinds of vines and climbing fig. Outside the courtyards, heavy clusters of wisteria flowers hung down. Before one even entered the courtyard, the cool, unusual fragrance was already enough to refresh the mind and spirit.
After turning a corner, an exquisite wooden door appeared in the wall. The numbers “Seven, Eight, Nine” were carved on it. Beneath each number was a small line of characters:
**Seven — Thousand Fragrances Room; Eight — Qilin Room; Nine — Quiet Profound Room.**
“Wow, every room has a name?” Baili Gelin was both surprised and delighted. “Thousand Fragrances Room. Li Fei, your room’s name sounds so nice. It sounds all fragrant. Could it be full of flowers inside?”
She eagerly pushed open the courtyard gate. Unexpectedly, there were already several people in the courtyard. Hearing the door open, everyone turned around together. The moment both sides saw each other, they were equally shocked and annoyed.
“You came to the wrong place, didn’t you?” Ji Tongzhou found this unbelievable. These lowly beggars dared barge into his courtyard? Although the other two rooms still had to house people, he had already decided that the entire courtyard belonged to him, Ji Tongzhou.
“You’re the one who came to the wrong place.” Li Fei looked at him coldly and raised her envelope. “I’m number seven. This room is mine.”
On the eastern room in the courtyard were the words “Thousand Fragrances Room.” It was indeed the room the academy had assigned to her. But at this moment, the room door had already been opened, and the stunningly beautiful Commandery Princess Lanya stood at the entrance, looking at them arrogantly.
“I like the name of this room.” Her voice was like an oriole singing, soft and pleasant, but her tone was high above others and full of pride, as if she were issuing an order. “I want to live here. Choose another room.”
Li Fei said flatly, “I don’t want to. Please come out.”
Commandery Princess Lanya’s face chilled. Relying on her status, she did not bother arguing with a commoner and merely turned to look at Ji Tongzhou.
Ji Tongzhou was somewhat angered. He was utterly unwilling to live in the same courtyard as this neither-male-nor-female beggar. But Li Fei was very formidable, and they had also passed the second selection together, so he did not want to say anything too ugly. Still, he was a prince. With a beauty in front of him and lackeys behind him, it was impossible for him to show weakness. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Consider this courtyard bought by me. You all can live elsewhere. I’ll compensate each of you one thousand taels of silver.”
One thousand taels of silver. He refused to believe these paupers would be unwilling to leave.
Sure enough, even Baili Gelin was moved. One thousand taels! Outside, that was enough to buy several courtyards even prettier and bigger than this one!
Li Fei remained completely unmoved. “I’m not short of money. You, move.” She lifted her chin and pointed at Commandery Princess Lanya.
The commandery princess was both angry and aggrieved. She called softly, “Your Highness.”
Ji Tongzhou was furious. She really refused the face he gave her! Last time in Lugong Town, he had only been caught off guard, and she had used stones to strike first, which was why she had succeeded. This time, he refused to believe he could not deal with her. Just as he was about to signal his lackeys to make the first move and knock down these ungrateful beggars, Li Fei cracked her fingers and walked straight towards Commandery Princess Lanya.
The commandery princess turned pale with fright and had no choice but to run away from the door.
Li Fei entered the room and saw many bundles piled on the table, probably all belonging to the commandery princess. She picked them all up and threw them out. Ignoring Ji Tongzhou and the others’ ashen faces, she waved to Baili Gelin and the other two.
“Come in.”
The door closed. Baili Gelin was a little worried. “Li Fei, you offended that little prince again. Later, when we leave, you’ll be alone, and they have so many people! Why not just give the room to that commandery princess?”
Li Fei shook her head. “I already have bad blood with them. If I give in this time, there’ll definitely be a next time and the time after that.”
If she had not stood up for Lei Xiuyuan in Lugong Town, perhaps she would have given in now. But the grudge had already been formed. Giving way again would be meaningless and would only make others look down on her more.
Besides, she was no longer the useless Xiao Bangchui from before. She was Jiang Li Fei of Chufeng Academy. From now on, she was going to raise her head and become an immortal.
“The room smells so good.” She looked around. The room was not large and had a layout very similar to the rooms in the courtyard on the rainbow deer carriage. But all the furniture was made of rattan. Outside, the sun blazed hot, yet inside the room it was extremely cool. Climbing figs covered half the window, heavy wisteria flowers hung beneath the eaves, and below the windowsill, all kinds of flowers bloomed in dense clusters: roses, four-o’clocks, balsam flowers… When the wind blew, all the different fragrances mixed together, intoxicating the senses. Thousand Fragrances Room truly 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 on the carriage.”
Baili Changyue saw a sword hanging on the wall and took it down, gently drawing it from its sheath. The blade was dull and lightless, rough to the touch. It was actually a thin stone sword.
“Why is there a sword made of stone?” Baili Gelin reached out and touched it. “Stone can’t even be sharpened. Is this sword just decoration?”
“No.” Baili Changyue shook her head. This sword was clearly somewhat old, not deliberately made to look old. The handle and scabbard had obvious pale marks from being rubbed. It must have been something often used by past disciples of the academy. She simply could not guess what it was used for.
Ye Ye thought for a moment and said, “Maybe it’s used for flying on a sword?”
“Flying doesn’t have to be done by sword, does it?” Baili Changyue hung the sword back on the wall.
“The sword is the king of all weapons. Sword flight is the most basic cultivation. Those immortals who use various magical treasures to fly in the sky all start by learning sword flight. I heard the elders and disciples of Xingzheng Hall never use magical treasures. Every one of them flies by sword. The more genuine an immortal sword is, the easier it is to store spiritual energy, and the more naturally it can be controlled.”
Ye Ye was speaking with great interest when Baili Changyue suddenly frowned and turned to look out the window. The next moment, a commotion sounded in the courtyard outside. A boy shouted arrogantly, “You dog beggar! How dare you trespass into the commandery princess’s fragrant chamber! I’ll break your dog legs!”
A familiar voice muttered something quietly. Ji Tongzhou’s furious voice immediately exploded. “You have some nerve! Get him! Beat him out for me!”
His lackeys immediately roared along with him, borrowing his power. “Beat him!”
“Don’t think entering the academy means you can become a dragon or phoenix! Why don’t you piss and look at your own reflection!”
Lei Xiuyuan’s panicked voice sounded, helpless and alone, seemingly mixed with sobs. “Th-this is clearly my room… Why can’t I enter?”
“You still dare talk back!”
There was a splashing sound, mixed with Lei Xiuyuan’s cry of alarm. The people inside the room could no longer hold back and rushed out. They saw Ji Tongzhou and Commandery Princess Lanya standing coldly outside the door with arms crossed. Several of his lackeys were there too: one was grabbing Lei Xiuyuan and beating him fiercely, while the others were drawing water from the well and splashing it over him.
Seeing someone come out, Ji Tongzhou deliberately said loudly, “Wash harder! The beggar stink is too foul!”
He really made people furious.
Expressionless, Li Fei slammed the door shut behind her and cracked her fingers. First, she knocked down the boy grabbing Lei Xiuyuan. Then she stepped forward and punched him squarely on the bridge of the nose. Blood immediately streamed from his nose, and for a long while he could not straighten up.
When the children saw blood, they all panicked a little. The lackeys had all tasted her strength before. Seeing her take someone down with one fierce punch, they were so frightened they all shrank back. Ji Tongzhou was so angry he kicked each of them.
“Useless things! When something happens, you run faster than I do!”
Li Fei was too lazy to bother with him. She first helped Lei Xiuyuan up. He had just been pinned down and beaten by those lackeys. Fortunately, his skin was not broken; only his face was swollen. His body was drenched, and he was still crying, looking as miserable as could be.
“Are you all right?” Li Fei wiped his face with her sleeve. “All right, come to my side.”
Lei Xiuyuan sobbed so hard he could barely speak. “Boss… they… they stole my room! I’m so useless… always needing you to help me…”
Ji Tongzhou had already been angry about having to live in the same courtyard as two beggars, with nowhere to vent his frustration. Hearing Lei Xiuyuan’s words, he immediately sneered. “Since you know you’re useless, you still dare provoke me? Let me tell you: if you dare come here for one day, I’ll beat you for one day! I’ll beat you until you don’t dare come anymore!”
Li Fei glared coldly at him. “I’ll return those words to you. If you dare touch him, I’ll beat you until you can’t live here anymore!”
Ji Tongzhou felt as if he was about to explode. He was angry, furious, but he could not beat her. How nice it would be if he could use a talisman to burn her half to death! But the disciple rules stated that private fights using immortal arts and mystic techniques were forbidden. He could not break the rules on the very first day, could he?
“Boss, my room…” Lei Xiuyuan was still crying while tugging at her sleeve, sobbing between breaths. Baili Changyue, standing nearby, suddenly frowned and looked at him, as if she wanted to say something. In the end, she remained silent.
Li Fei looked coldly at Commandery Princess Lanya. The commandery princess was rather afraid of her. Added to the child with the bleeding nose still lying on the ground, rolling around and crying in a way that chilled the heart, she could only go tearfully into Quiet Profound Room and take out her bundles. She looked at Ji Tongzhou and called out pitifully, “Your Highness, Lanya… Lanya cannot accompany you in living in this courtyard. Please forgive me.”
Ji Tongzhou grabbed her and said sternly, “You’re not allowed to leave! Today, I insist that you live here! That stinking beggar! Do you dare refuse?!”
Seeing their prince flare up, the lackeys immediately crowded around him to add a little momentum. Baili Gelin and the others did not back down either. They surrounded them and shouted, “Do you think you’re still a prince here and can bully people with power? This is someone else’s room. Why should he give it to you?”
For a moment, the two groups faced each other in the courtyard, neither side giving way.
Ji Tongzhou stared fixedly at Li Fei. He hated this neither-male-nor-female person to the bone, yet he was also extremely wary of her. The scene from that day, when she had shattered the fox demon with a single touch, often surfaced in his mind. What terrifying talent!
Ever since he was born, everything had gone smoothly for him. Who did not give way to him? Even the emperor protected him somewhat. Yet this little beggar had publicly humiliated him again and again. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Suddenly, he pushed Commandery Princess Lanya aside, drew a talisman from his sleeve, and made as if to throw it.
Everyone was shocked to see him actually use a talisman. This little prince was far too arrogant! This was the academy! Using a talisman against fellow disciples—did he want to be expelled?
A cold female voice suddenly sounded in the courtyard.
“What are you making a fuss about?”
Ji Tongzhou felt an icy hand settle on his wrist. He involuntarily loosened his fingers, and all the talismans were taken away by that person.
It was the black-veiled woman. She had appeared again like a ghost, from who knew where.
Looking down at the talismans, the black-veiled woman’s voice grew even colder. “The academy forbids private fights using immortal arts and mystic techniques. Violators are immediately expelled. Did you not know?”
Ji Tongzhou was angry, embarrassed, and somewhat frightened. Even his ears turned red from strain. “I didn’t even use them! Is it not allowed to just take them out and look at them?!”
The black-veiled woman looked around. The courtyard floor was wet, several buckets had fallen over, one child was rolling on the ground crying, and another was drenched and crying too. After checking, there were indeed no traces of talismans having been used. She gave a cold snort, put the talismans into her own sleeve, and said, “If anyone causes another loud disturbance, they will be expelled immediately! Everyone return to your rooms!”
Ji Tongzhou’s face turned white, then red. He had suffered another irreversible humiliation, and he was so angry his legs trembled. At this point, saying anything else would be pointless. Without a word, he turned and entered his room, slamming the door hard and leaving everyone outside.
Seeing the situation was bad, Ji Tongzhou’s lackeys quickly carried away the poor child with the bleeding nose and retreated. Commandery Princess Lanya 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 gave Li Fei a sinister glare and left as well.
The farce finally ended. Baili Gelin and the others also said goodbye and went to find their own courtyard. Lei Xiuyuan was pushed tearfully into his room by Li Fei. She originally wanted to ask where he had run off to earlier, but she hated seeing him look so useless and could not think of any comforting words either. She only left him with, “Go wash your face,” then returned to her own room.
The courtyard returned to silence.
After who knew how long, the door of Quiet Profound Room was suddenly knocked on lightly. When the door opened, Baili Changyue stood outside.
“Changyue?” Lei Xiuyuan looked at her timidly. “Boss is in the room to the east… Do you need something?”
Baili Changyue looked at him quietly and said softly, “You went too far.”
“…What did you say?” He looked frightened and completely at a loss.
“Xiao Bangchui is a girl.” She had always called Li Fei Xiao Bangchui and had never managed to change it. “She is a good person. You shouldn’t be like this. Why did you deliberately provoke them? Why didn’t you fight back yourself?”
Lei Xiuyuan hunched his shoulders, seeming to tremble slightly. “What are you talking about… I… how would I dare…”
Baili Changyue seemed to sigh. She said nothing more and turned to leave.
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