Luo Jiu watched the retreating backs of the two men, his expression shifting into a gaze full of utter disdain. "Just a couple of watchdogs. If it weren't for the Yu Family's young patriarch, how could I have bothered to be so polite to you? You have no idea what you're actually worth. Heh, what a joke."
"To think that two mere Qi Condensation 2nd Layer nobodies would dare call someone at the Qi Condensation 3rd Layer good-for-nothing. Absolutely hilarious. Still, I'd love to see what kind of trash actually managed to trigger a heavenly tribulation at the Qi Condensation 3rd Layer."
Having taken bribes from outsiders, Yu Tong and Yu He quickly found Yu Fan in his courtyard. Aside from Yu Fan, however, Liu Shuying, Jiang Bo, Bai Ling, and Yu Cheng were also there.
As for everyone else, they had long since dispersed.
Yu Fan's courtyard grew quiet once again—though, of course, aside from the scorched flagstones and the lightning-struck tree, which still seemed to bear witness to the astonishing spectacle that had just taken place.
"By the way, Miss Liu, what brings you here today?" Yu Fan asked dubiously. The last time she came to call off their engagement, the matter had caused his father to lose face, so he currently held no warm feelings toward Liu Shuying.
Yet, for the sake of their former engagement, he spoke to her with a modicum of politeness, addressing her as Miss Liu—after all, he still needed to maintain his image on the surface. That didn't mean it matched what he truly felt inside, however, or he wouldn't have called her a smelly bitch in his thoughts.
Yu Cheng was well aware of the Liu Family's formidable power, but to Yu Fan, the Liu Family wasn't worth shit, and Bihai Academy was even less so. None of them measured up to him. As long as they kept out of his way, fine. But otherwise—heh!
The moment someone crossed his bottom line, he would gladly forfeit any rewards just to vent a mouthful of pent-up anger for his family.
Living a life where others called him trash was painful yet strangely joyful. Ordinary people could never understand it.
Though he lost a little face, his actual strength kept growing every single day without even needing to cultivate. Really, comparing oneself to others could drive a person mad!
The life of a hidden master was just that unpretentious. His strength simply refused to let him stay low-profile.
*(Could this smelly hag be here to call off the engagement again? Hmph, break it off then, the young master couldn't care less about her! So what if she has a prettier face, fairer skin, longer legs, and acts a bit aloof? With my real strength, I can find anyone I want. Losing this young master is her loss.)*
*(To be fair, though, this Liu Shuying really does have meat where it counts and is slender where she should be. That slender, willow-like waist, an angel's face, and a devil's body...)*
As Yu Fan looked at her, he couldn't help but swallow hard. He had to admit, she was an absolute top-tier beauty.
"What on earth is this guy thinking?! Honestly, what a lecher!" Liu Shuying's cheeks grew hotter and hotter, turning an unnatural shade of red.
She was still an inexperienced young maiden; how could she possibly withstand such provocation?
"Shuying, what's wrong? Your face is so red, are you sick?" Yu Cheng asked with genuine concern.
Liu Shuying hurriedly touched her cheeks, which were already growing hot. *(Oh no, oh no, this is mortifying! I must not let anyone notice!)*
She shook her head hastily. "I'm fine, it's just a bit hot outside," she said, her voice laced with guilt.
"Yu Fan, I really do have a reason for coming here today," Liu Shuying continued quickly. If she didn't interrupt this lecherous scoundrel soon, her face would only get redder.
*(She actually has business here?)* Yu Fan thought with surprise.
"Go ahead and spit it out, then. What is it? It's already noon, and the young master needs to eat," Yu Fan said, rubbing his belly, which let out a faint rumble.
*(Eat, eat, eat, all he ever thinks about is eating! Is he the reincarnation of a starving ghost? This is so infuriating!)* Liu Shuying cursed inwardly.
"I came here today on behalf of my master, Yuning, to take you on as her disciple," Liu Shuying said, her gaze turning serious.
"Take me as her disciple? No way!" Yu Fan refused flatly, giving Liu Shuying no room for discussion.
*(Is this woman out of her mind? I'm nothing but good-for-nothing trash, what use would she have for someone like me?)*
"Shuying, does this mean if Fan'er becomes her disciple, he'll be able to go and cultivate at Bihai Academy?" Yu Cheng suddenly asked.
"Of course! Anyone who enters Bihai Academy can turn a pig into a spirit beast, let alone a human being!" Liu Shuying replied.
She looked at Yu Fan with hopeful eyes, and sure enough, Yu Fan began to look uneasy.
Wasn't this basically telling his parents that going to Bihai Academy could transform his life and rid him of his good-for-nothing status?
How could he allow that? If people found out he wasn't trash anymore, how was he supposed to keep earning system rewards?
Liu Shuying would be returning to the academy soon; the summer break was about to end. Originally, she had planned to head to Bihai Academy after calling off the engagement, but after discovering that Yu Fan was merely pretending to be useless, she had changed her mind.
She was going to take Yu Fan with her.
Naturally, she knew Yu Fan was faking his incompetence, so trying to get him to leave the Yu Family willingly was probably impossible. However, it wasn't entirely hopeless—and the key to making it happen lay with his parents.
Through observation, it wasn't hard to tell that Yu Fan had a very good relationship with his parents. The son was filial, and the parents doted on him dearly.
They had cultivated a wonderful father-son and mother-son bond.
Therefore, her task was to find a way to get Yu Cheng and Bai Ling to speak up and persuade Yu Fan to follow her to Bihai Academy.
"Shuying, is what you're saying true? Can Bihai Academy really turn even a pig into a spirit beast?" Yu Cheng asked anxiously. This was practically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! He had feared that after having his engagement broken off, Yu Fan would be crushed by the dual blow to his reputation and spirit, never to recover again.
That was the last thing he wanted to see, so how could he not be astonished by this sudden opportunity?
As one of the ten great academies of the Cangling Continent, Bihai Academy gathered countless talented individuals. Every head of the academy was a peerless genius, and the place was brimming with powerhouses, having forged countless supreme experts.
With its formidable reputation, countless people scrambled to register for the entrance examinations every single year.
"Of course it's true, Uncle Yu. Don't worry, with me here, Yu Fan will definitely be able to enter Bihai Academy." Liu Shuying's lips curved upward slightly.
*(I won't go! I refuse to go!)*
Yu Fan screamed in protest inwardly, but he didn't dare voice it out loud.
"Dad, I don't want to go to any Bihai Academy. I just want to stay and keep you both company," Yu Fan argued.
"What is there to keep us company for? A good man has ambitions that stretch across the world. The outside world is vast; what kind of future can you carve out in a tiny place like Qingshan City? I hope that you, just like our ancestor Yu Xian six hundred years ago, will go out and forge your own world, and walk your own path," Yu Cheng said, his gaze lifting toward the distant horizon.
Born on the Cangling Continent as a cultivator, who wouldn't want to tread across the eight wildernesses and shake the four seas?