Chapter 123: Have Some Shame

"Senior Sister Feng, want to team up with me? My Seven-Star Sword Art has reached great mastery; I won't hold you back!"

"Senior Sister Feng, how about we go together? If we encounter a high-level demon beast, I'll sacrifice myself to cover your retreat!"

"Senior Sister Feng, together? All the treasures we get from teaming up are yours; I only want what the mission requires."

After the rather unpleasant oath-taking ceremony, the main force exited the Danwu Academy.

Along the way, quite a few formidable young talents gathered around Feng Zhirou, hoping to team up with her.

Feng Zhirou's charm was no joke; in just a short while, no fewer than ten male students had asked to team up with her, all with strength above the second layer of Spirit Liquid.

It must be said, Feng Zhirou's icy demeanor greatly stirred men's desire to conquer.

The colder she was to these male students, the more they flocked to her like chickens on stimulants.

Even after Feng Zhirou rejected those male students, they still lingered not far from her.

Ye Yuan had been following at a moderate distance, but now he approached with a smile: "Senior Sister Feng, how about taking me? Look, I'm weak; teaming up with me will let you show off your unparalleled elegance!"

Everyone cast disdainful glances at Ye Yuan.

You're weak? Your combat power ranks in the top fifty of the martial list!

Can you stretch the truth that far?

Besides, don't women want to be protected by men? Begging for protection so humbly will surely earn you Senior Sister Feng's contempt!

Come to think of it, this wasn't the first time Ye Yuan had hidden behind a woman. Last time when Su Yubai ambushed, didn't Ye Yuan hide behind Teacher Feng?

So it seems Ye Yuan is a classic bully who fears the strong!

How could Senior Sister Feng fancy a man like that?

Moreover, who in the academy doesn't know that Ye Yuan has already won over Teacher Feng? Now he's provoking Feng Zhirou—does he want to take both aunt and niece?

Have some shame, will you?

Even if Senior Sister Feng can't find a man, she wouldn't share a husband with her own aunt, right?

Just then, Feng Zhirou suddenly stopped, turned around, and stared coldly at Ye Yuan.

A bone-chilling coldness spread.

Just as everyone expected Feng Zhirou to explode, she coldly uttered four words: "Clear the way ahead!"

Everyone collapsed to the ground.

What just happened? This world is too crazy!

Senior Sister Feng actually agreed!

Could it be that Senior Sister Feng is a complete cougar lover and enjoys this kind of thing?

If they'd known, they would have put on a pitiful act too, to satisfy Senior Sister Feng's protective instinct!

"Haha, did you hear that? Senior Sister Feng has agreed to team up with me, so stop hovering around her! You know, when Senior Sister Feng loses her temper, ordinary folks can't handle it. Don't ask for trouble. If you get hurt, don't say I didn't warn you!" Ye Yuan said to the crowd with a smile.

With that, Ye Yuan indeed took the lead to clear the way.

Naturally, some still refused to give up, but after Feng Zhirou drew her sword and nearly cut off an ear, everyone reluctantly left.

By now, Ye Yuan and Feng Zhirou had reached the edge of the Boundless Forest.

The Boundless Forest was fraught with danger, so students often entered in pairs or groups for the Boundless Trial.

The Boundless Trial lasted half a month; the task for Heaven-tier students was to hand over ten second-tier demon beast inner cores and ten second-tier medicinal herbs.

This task seemed easy—just kill ten second-tier demon beasts and pick ten herbs—but it wasn't.

Demon beasts were often very powerful, stronger than martial artists of the same rank. Moreover, many demon beasts lived in groups; once trapped, there was almost no chance of survival.

Also, some herbs had their own guardian beasts, so gathering herbs could provoke attacks.

Thus, teaming up to complete the task was naturally the best choice.

"Senior Sister, isn't it tiring to keep that cold face all day?" Ye Yuan turned to Feng Zhirou when no one was around.

"None of your business, I like it!" Feng Zhirou said crossly.

Though still icy, it seemed more like she was throwing a tantrum, completely different from the aloofness she showed others.

Ye Yuan sighed: "Beautiful lady, you'll have to marry someday. How will you find an ideal husband like this?"

Feng Zhirou said: "You stinking men, all you think about is crooked ideas. None of you are good. Why should I give you a pleasant face?"

"That's painting everyone with the same brush! Let's not debate whether men are good or not, but the way of men and women is the way of heaven. A gentle and virtuous maiden is a gentleman's good match—there's nothing wrong with that, right?"

"I didn't say I wouldn't find a dao companion. Why are you so anxious? Are you, like those stinking men, smitten with me?"

Unconsciously, Feng Zhirou's words set Ye Yuan apart from others. She probably didn't realize it herself.

Ye Yuan laughed heartily: "Senior Sister is beautiful, but with that habit of drawing your sword at the drop of a hat, I'll keep my distance! I don't want a dao companion who might stab me one day—that would be a terrible death!"

Feng Zhirou gritted her teeth: "You're so boring. Do you have to harp on one thing forever?"

Like Feng Ruoqing, Feng Zhirou had always been confident in her charm. But in front of Ye Yuan, she never felt that superiority.

Ye Yuan not only didn't flatter or indulge her like other students, but actively avoided her.

This sense of defeat was something Feng Zhirou had never experienced.

And she could tell that Ye Yuan's words weren't deliberate posturing; he genuinely didn't want to be involved with her.

In fact, Ye Yuan had never schemed against her; instead, he had helped her and her aunt a lot.

Feng Zhirou was proud and ambitious, focused solely on pursuing the pinnacle of martial arts. If she made no further progress in life, that would be worse than death.

Ye Yuan not only identified her problem but also gave her a technique. This set of techniques called 'Countercurrent Art' seemed tailor-made for her.

Feng Zhirou's progress in cultivating this technique was astonishing!

Barring accidents, she would catch up to her previous technique's progress in just three months.

Though Feng Zhirou had never expressed it, she was deeply grateful to Ye Yuan.

Seeing her expression, Ye Yuan smiled: "Haha, I'll stop, I'll stop. Actually, it's not me worrying about you, but Teacher Feng who's more concerned."

Feng Zhirou asked doubtfully: "My aunt? What's going on?"

Ye Yuan recounted what happened with Feng Ruoqing that morning and laughed: "Your aunt is really strange—she's still a young girl herself, yet she's worrying about your affairs."

Feng Zhirou listened but surprisingly didn't comment; instead, she stiffened her face and said: "Let's go. You continue clearing the way!"

Ye Yuan smiled: "Clear what way? Let's just swagger straight in."

With that, Ye Yuan took out two pills and handed one to Feng Zhirou.