Chapter Thirty-Six: The Assertive Chen Junxi

Rolling green mountains, verdant earth stretching endlessly.

A deep rumbling, like spring thunder, echoed from beneath the ground, growing nearer and nearer, making the earth tremble in waves. The sound abruptly ceased at the foot of a towering pavilion.

“Dear friends, welcome aboard the Dongyue Sun-Moon Shuttle. We have arrived at Hengyang Mountain Station. Please gather your belongings and disembark. We look forward to seeing you next time.” The announcement resonated from within the pavilion, amplified and carried by a special sound array.

Soon, several passengers emerged from the building. Among them was a young man of unremarkable appearance; he looked up at the sun, grinned, revealing his small canine teeth. “I never imagined the world of immortals would have a Sun-Moon Shuttle. It’s just like the subway in our old world. The Sun Shuttle runs east to west, the Moon Shuttle from south to north. Half a day’s ride for only two spirit stones—much cheaper than my old commute. Truly fascinating.”

Beside him, a youth of eighteen or nineteen, his face covered in acne, threw an arm around his shoulder. “Lei Xiang, this is Hengyang Mountain. Academy staff will meet us outside the station.”

Lei Xiang glanced at the dense acne on his companion’s face. This was Liu Tian, a new acquaintance from the shuttle—a naturally sociable fellow. “You’ve been here before? You seem so familiar. Why is it broad daylight when I took the shuttle at night? Shouldn’t we be arriving in the dead of night?”

Liu Tian puffed out his chest and explained loudly, “I know this place well. Once, I escorted senior brothers to the academy. As for the sun, it’s all in the name—Hengyang Mountain…”

Lei Xiang nodded, feigning enlightenment. “So ‘Hengyang’ means everlasting sun—no night, no stars or moon, only the sun?”

Liu Tian grew even more pleased with himself. “Exactly! People here live their whole lives without seeing stars or the moon, just like some southerners never see snow.”

Liu Tian was about to elaborate further when the sweet voice from the sound array interrupted, “All incoming students of the Hongji Foundation Academy, please assemble at the northwest corner of the station square, in front of Hengyang Stone. Academy staff will guide you.”

“Let’s go—time to find our group.”

At the northwest corner of the square, beneath the shadow of a gigantic stone, thirty or so young people gathered. After Lei Xiang and his companion arrived, a cultivator in apricot-yellow robes checked their admission papers and waved them into formation. Liu Tian’s eyes sparkled; he hurried into the crowd, greeting and chatting with everyone as if they were lifelong friends. Any outsider would have thought they’d known each other for years.

Lei Xiang shook his head. “Liu Tian really is a talent—no one can rival his communication skills.” He found a patch of ground, sat down, and began channeling his qi to restore his spiritual power.

Three days later, most of the new students had arrived. The apricot-robed staff announced, “Gather for the return to the academy.” A streak of fire shot skyward; soon a yellow dot appeared in the distant sky, quickly enlarging and descending before the group.

It was a two-story dragon boat. Everyone filed aboard in turn, and under the guidance of another apricot-robed cultivator, the vessel soared into the heavens.

After half a shichen’s flight, the dragon boat rose vertically, climbing for an unknown length of time. Lei Xiang and the others saw nothing but swirling seas of clouds all around before the boat finally stopped.

The yellow-robed staff produced a token and cast it deep into the cloud sea. Instantly, the mists churned, revealing a massive archway, nine zhang tall, with a gold plaque bearing bold characters: Hongji Foundation Academy.

The students stirred with excitement, leaping from the dragon boat. “We’re finally entering Hongji Academy! For so many cultivators, this is the dream. Gaining admission to Hongji is almost synonymous with succeeding at foundation establishment—it’s a huge step forward on the path to immortality.”

Beyond the archway stood a cluster of lofty buildings, about twenty-five or twenty-six in total. Lei Xiang sensed that Hongji Academy was no ordinary institution—surely thousands of students attended here.

The yellow-robed staff announced, “Today, you will be assigned dormitories for rest. The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow.”

The students flocked toward the dormitories on the left. By chance, Liu Tian and Lei Xiang were assigned to the same room—Building One, Room 412.

The structure rose fourteen stories high. Lei Xiang and the others quickly found Room 412, pushed open the door, and Lei Xiang was momentarily stunned. “Feels just like university again!” Inside was a square table, an eight-compartment cabinet behind the door, and eight bunk beds, three of which were already occupied.

On the western wall’s upper bunk lay a burly, earthy-looking youth. Across from him, a white-robed cultivator sat cross-legged, eyes closed, meditating and refining qi. Strangely, a blue-flowered bundle rested on his lap. On the lower bunk outside, a young man in apricot-yellow garments regarded Lei Xiang and Liu Tian with an air of superiority.

“You’re new students? I’m the dorm leader here—Ma Zhiyuan. My father is Director Ma, who oversees new students at the academy. What are your names?”

Liu Tian hurried forward, smiling and cupping his fists. “Greetings, Senior Brother Ma. I am Liu Tian, and this is Lei Xiang. We look forward to your guidance.”

Ma Zhiyuan, with his peach blossom eyes, appraised them up and down, then waved and laughed, “You’re quick on the uptake. As long as you behave, I’ll look out for you. Go ahead and take the lower bunks inside.”

Through introductions, Lei Xiang learned the burly youth was Ma Tao, and the white-robed cultivator was called Dugu Yixiao. Judging by his granite-like face, the notion of him smiling seemed impossible.

Suddenly, the door slammed open and five people poured in. At their head was a tall, handsome young man, about 1.8 meters, strikingly good-looking, with cultivation at the peak of the fourteenth layer of qi refinement. The four grey-robed men following him seemed to have similar cultivation.

The occupants were startled, all eyes turning toward the newcomers—except for Dugu Yixiao, who continued meditating, apparently unmoved by anything.

Ma Zhiyuan was the first to speak. “Are you looking for someone? I’m the dorm leader. May I ask who you’re seeking?”

The handsome young man ignored him completely, chin raised. One of the grey-robed men barked, “Dorm leader? Nonsense. Our young master is here, and you’ll all answer to him.”

“Young master? Everyone here is a fellow student—where does ‘young master’ come from?”

The grey-robed man sneered, “Kid, this is Young Master Chen Junxi. Do you know who his father is? Stop bragging.”

Chen Junxi, appearing impatient, casually pointed to Ma Zhiyuan’s lower bunk. His attendant immediately stepped forward. “Young master wants this bunk. Move out, now.”

Ma Zhiyuan had never suffered such humiliation. Spiritual energy surged within him as his hand reached for his storage pouch, but he reconsidered. “Better find out who this young master’s father is first. Besides, they have numbers—best not to act rashly; I’ll ask my father to deal with them later.” Swallowing his anger, he asked, “May I ask who your esteemed father is?”

The grey-robed man puffed himself up, “Listen well, don’t get scared. Our young master’s father is Chen Xiaoyun, the sect leader of the Eastern Yue Sect, the foremost faction in Dongyue.”

At the mention of Chen Xiaoyun, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly. Even Ma Zhiyuan’s arrogance vanished as he stood up and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Young Master Chen. The bunk is yours—I’ll take the upper one.”

Ma Zhiyuan understood: if this really was Chen Xiaoyun’s son, not even his own father, nor even the dean of Hongji, would dare cross him.

Lei Xiang observed coldly, making no move. Chen Junxi sat heavily on Ma Zhiyuan’s bed and eyed him as he climbed to the upper bunk. “You want to sleep above me?”

Ma Zhiyuan froze, then hastily apologized, “Ah, forgive my oversight. How could anyone sleep above the young master? I’ll move right away.” With a sweep of his peach blossom eyes, he approached Lei Xiang.

“You know I can only sleep on the lower bunk—hurry up and make room.”

Lei Xiang grinned, revealing his small canine teeth. “If you can’t stand up to him, you come to bully me? Unfortunately, I also only sleep on the lower bunk.”

Ma Zhiyuan flushed. “You little brat, if you don’t behave, I’ll pull those dog teeth out.” Liu Tian rushed over to mediate, while the swaggering young master Chen folded his arms, watching the spectacle. Ma Tao, the burly youth, cowered in the corner.

In the midst of the commotion, a deep voice rang out. “All of you, shut up!”

Everyone looked up. Dugu Yixiao, who had spoken, had opened his eyes—but to Lei Xiang, it made little difference. Dugu Yixiao’s eyes always seemed half-closed, but that single phrase won Lei Xiang’s admiration.

Ma Zhiyuan was furious. How could he survive in this dorm now? “Dugu brat, whose torn trousers let you out? Get lost…” But suddenly, he felt Dugu Yixiao’s gaze fixed on him, sending electric chills down his spine. Cold sweat trickled along his back. “He’s at the fourteenth layer too, and his eyes are just slits, but why is he so terrifying? There’s an aura of slaughter about him… Could it be…” Ma Zhiyuan didn’t dare finish the thought.

Just then, Liu Tian interjected, “Senior Brother Ma, no need to fuss over a bunk. Take mine instead.” Ma Zhiyuan gritted his teeth and accepted the offer, “Thank you, Liu Tian. I’m not one to quibble over trifles. I’ll take the empty bed.” He strode over to the vacant wooden bed.

Seeing the two weren’t about to fight, Ma Tao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Junxi, finding the whole affair boring, stood and headed out. “Nothing interesting here. Let’s go hang out at your rental.”

Lei Xiang also stood and addressed Dugu Yixiao on the upper bunk. “Brother Dugu, thank you…” But he quickly realized Dugu Yixiao had returned to a state of utter self-absorption, the blue-flowered bundle still resting on his lap.

Liu Tian tried to smooth things over. “Senior Brother Ma, shall I find a blanket for you?”

“No need. I’ll remember today’s events. We have a long road ahead.” With that, Ma Zhiyuan glared fiercely at Lei Xiang and Dugu Yixiao and left the room.

Liu Tian settled onto the lower bunk opposite Lei Xiang. “Lei Xiang, you have to know when to bend and when to stand tall. For those two young lords, just give them some face—it won’t cost you anything.”

Lei Xiang smiled. “If I gave them face, you’d have missed your chance to shine, right? I think you ought to be called Liu Eight-Faces.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re adept with everyone—eight-faced and smooth, haha.”

Even timid Ma Tao chuckled quietly, and Liu Tian laughed aloud. “Lei Xiang, I think you should be called Little Dog Tooth—no matter who it is, good or bad, you bite them at least once.”

With the exception of Dugu Yixiao, the three remaining in the room all laughed together.