Chapter Seventy-Two: Forceful Invitation
Six Rivers Academy Society.
Inside the lecture hall, Chen Feihuan watched as Fang Xiao put away his blacksteel whip, her eyes filled with the most complex emotions.
As an instructor at the academy, she had seen all kinds of prodigies.
Some possessed such remarkable talent that they left others in awe at first sight.
But none were quite like Fang Xiao.
A martial genius who had mastered a superior martial art in just two days—Chen Feihuan had truly never encountered such a person before.
She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
The gulf between people could, at times, be even greater than that between humans and monkeys!
“From now on, you’ll have to train on your own,” the instructor said sincerely. “I’ve taught you everything I know.”
“If you want to reach greater heights, it will depend on your own understanding and hard work!”
She would have liked to teach him for a few more days.
But Fang Xiao’s ability to learn was simply too overwhelming.
When a student was too strong, the teacher would find herself completely drained.
She had already revealed every last trick she had kept in reserve!
In fact, having reached his current level with the “Soul-Stealing Whip of Impermanence,” Fang Xiao could already be considered an expert.
But to become a true master, he would have to comprehend the essence and intent behind the technique.
That was far beyond Chen Feihuan’s capacity as an instructor.
With the whip wrapped around his arm, Fang Xiao bowed respectfully to her. “Thank you, Instructor!”
[Soul-Stealing Whip of Impermanence (Proficient): 0/40]
Having invested only five experience points, Fang Xiao had used just one morning to elevate this advanced whip technique to proficiency.
With the “Essentials of Whip Techniques” Chen Feihuan had given him earlier, self-study from here on posed no obstacle.
Fang Xiao bowed once more, then left the lecture hall, thus ending this brief apprenticeship with Chen Feihuan.
Watching his departing figure, Chen Feihuan finally understood the strange look on Lin Chong’s face whenever he mentioned this student.
It was a pity that Fang Xiao had neither background nor connections. He didn’t understand the ways of the world, either.
With such talent, his future path would still be a hard one!
Chen Feihuan could do little more to help him.
All she could do was hope, deep in her heart, that this prodigy would not blaze across the sky like a shooting star, only to fall just as swiftly.
Fang Xiao, for his part, had no idea of Chen Feihuan’s silent blessing.
Ravenous, he hurried to the dining hall.
It was just time for lunch.
The hall was bustling with noise and activity.
Having received his meal from the cook, Fang Xiao took a random empty seat.
There were already two others at the table, but as soon as Fang Xiao sat down, they hastily picked up their trays and left.
As if he were some terrifying beast, or perhaps afflicted with plague!
Fang Xiao paid it no mind.
He had encountered this kind of situation many times before.
At this moment, his mind was still filled with a flood of insights gained from advancing the “Soul-Stealing Whip of Impermanence.”
He had no interest in other people’s actions.
As long as they didn’t bother him, Fang Xiao couldn’t care less about his fellow students’ attitudes.
Just as he was about to dig in—
A handsome young man sat down across from him, smiling warmly. “Hello, Brother Fang Xiao.”
Fang Xiao looked up, curiosity in his eyes. “Hello. What can I do for you?”
He wondered what occasion today might be, for someone to actually approach and talk to him of their own accord.
Such things were rare indeed.
The handsome youth produced a letter. “Brother Fang Xiao, Senior Gao Hong has heard you’re one of this year’s outstanding new students, and so he invites you to attend his celebration banquet.”
Fang Xiao was momentarily taken aback. “Senior Gao Hong?”
“That’s right,” the youth answered proudly. “Senior Gao Hong has just passed the martial arts preliminary exam for Jingyuan Academy, so he’s hosting a banquet at his home to celebrate with his juniors.”
“Your name wasn’t on the guest list at first.”
“But when Senior heard others mention you, he sent me to deliver this invitation.”
“Brother Fang Xiao, you mustn’t miss this opportunity!”
With that, he extended the invitation toward Fang Xiao.
But Fang Xiao did not take it.
After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Please thank Senior Gao for his invitation on my behalf. I just don’t enjoy social gatherings, so I must politely decline.”
“I also wish Senior Gao every success, and a bright future ahead.”
In the days since his arrival at Six Rivers Academy, Fang Xiao had focused entirely on martial arts, never concerning himself with anything else.
But he knew some basic facts.
If Six Rivers Academy was like a secondary school, then Jingyuan Academy was akin to a university.
Whether Dao students, martial students, or literary students—passing the entrance exam for Jingyuan Academy was a great honor, worthy of celebration.
The problem was—
Admission required both a preliminary and a final exam, six months apart.
Fang Xiao could not understand why this senior would throw such a grand celebration after only passing the preliminary round.
Was he not afraid of the embarrassment if he failed the final?
Of course, perhaps Fang Xiao was simply ignorant of the social norms.
But in any case, he had no interest in attending such a banquet.
He was no fool.
He could hardly fail to notice the rejection and isolation from his peers.
Why subject himself to further humiliation?
Most importantly, the student delivering the invitation, while outwardly polite, carried an air of condescension.
It reminded Fang Xiao of Zheng Kaizhi.
Though that scion of the Zheng family was subtler than this youth, the same sense lingered.
Fang Xiao found it just as distasteful.
So he could only decline.
No sooner had he spoken than the student’s face darkened. “Brother Fang Xiao, Senior Gao invited you personally, and you refuse to give him the courtesy?”
“Personally?”
Fang Xiao doubted their definitions of “personally” matched.
Besides, he felt his earlier refusal had been as tactful and courteous as possible.
Yet here he was, being questioned so rudely.
How absurd!
Fang Xiao saw no reason to endure it further. “And what if I don’t?”
Suddenly, the room went quiet.
The students who overheard the exchange fell silent, even stopping mid-chew for fear of drawing trouble.
“Very well!”
The young man forced a laugh, rose, and said, “Brother Fang Xiao, your temper is indeed as legendary as they say. I shall report back to Senior Gao.”
“I hope you’ll still be able to eat here in peace in the future!”
Fang Xiao sat calmly, not even lifting his eyelids. “That’s none of your concern.”
The youth swept away in a huff.
Amid the odd atmosphere, Fang Xiao finished every morsel on his tray, not wasting a single grain of rice.
He wiped his mouth and left.
He had barely exited the dining hall when a commotion erupted behind him.
His peers began chattering excitedly, voices overlapping in heated discussion.
“Brother Fang Xiao!”
As Fang Xiao reached the gate of Lin Chong’s instructor’s residence, hurried footsteps rang out behind him, followed by an anxious shout. “Wait!”
Turning, Fang Xiao saw a burly, tower-like man hurrying toward him!