Chapter Ten: Pranking Dai Mubai (Ending with a Surprise)

After being knocked flying, Dai Mubai’s mind went blank. This kid was improving too rapidly. Just moments ago, he had been cautious enough to keep a distance of at least ten meters from him, yet in an instant, he had surged right in front of him.

What Dai Mubai didn’t know was that the ten hours of daytime training were arranged by Zhao Wuji, while the two hours at night were set by Flander.

Half a month ago, when Gu Chen was training with Xiao Wu, he was thrown into the air. Flander noticed the gliding distance midair and immediately took him to a small grove that very night for special training.

Therefore, Gu Chen’s speed, agility, and attack power improved remarkably fast!

During Flander’s brief absence, he entrusted the task of training Gu Chen’s agility to Zhu Zhuqing, which explained their close familiarity.

After knocking Dai Mubai aside, Gu Chen pressed forward, unleashing the “Eagle Soars in the Vast Sky” technique, which not only amplified his attack but also increased his speed and granted a flying effect.

He kicked Dai Mubai to the ground, flipped midair, and landed before Zhu Zhuqing—this was Xiao Wu’s signature move…

“Senior Zhu Qing, I drank too much last night and felt especially drawn to you,” Gu Chen said.

“Is that so?” Zhu Zhuqing replied in surprise.

“Yeah, but after sobering up this morning, I realized something else.”

“What is it?” Zhu Zhuqing asked, tinged with confusion and a hint of disappointment.

“It turns out that even after sobering up, I still miss you just as much.”

“You…” Zhu Zhuqing burst out laughing.

This wasn’t the first time Gu Chen had teased her like this. Although she was typically reserved and aware of Gu Chen’s smooth tongue, she couldn’t get angry—instead, she found it rather amusing.

“Well then, Senior, please feel free to torment me as much as you like!”

“Hahaha…” Zhu Zhuqing couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Dai Mubai, having gotten up from the ground, saw his fiancée being flirted with openly by a junior and was so enraged that he transformed immediately.

“White Tiger Vajra transformation.”

“Dai Mubai, have you lost your mind? Do you want to kill him?” Zhu Zhuqing interposed herself between Gu Chen and Dai Mubai.

“Zhu Qing, move aside. This guy ambushed me; I need to teach him a lesson.”

“Senior, move aside. If your mindset is this poor and you want to act like a leader, you’ll probably be dead on the battlefield. Tell me honestly, how many times has this happened? You haven’t improved at all!” Gu Chen’s words were firm yet without any intention of stepping forward.

Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai’s tiger-like eyes widened in fury; the fur of his White Tiger spirit rose as he howled toward the sky.

“Roar…”

“Enough, Mubai. Training is over.” A rough voice sounded.

“No, Master Zhao, don’t stop me. Let me fight him properly.”

“Fight properly? At your Soul Master level against a newly promoted spirit master like him?”

“Gu Chen is right. If this wasn’t a duel and he were your equal, you’d be dead by now. I didn’t expect that after all this time, your mindset is still so poor. I’m very disappointed!” Zhao Wuji frowned, his tone stern and tinged with frustration.

“Master Zhao…” Dai Mubai called out unwillingly.

“Enough. Go back and reflect properly.” Zhao Wuji’s commanding voice left no room for argument.

“Yes…” Dai Mubai sulked as he left.

Ever since Zhao Wuji assigned him to spar with Gu Chen, he hadn’t gained the slightest advantage.

Gu Chen always found ways to disrupt his focus, such as:

“Boss Dai, your pants are falling down.”

Dai Mubai naturally didn’t fall for such a childish trick, but soon he felt a chill in his crotch.

Looking down, he saw his pants on the ground. Covering himself, he pulled his pants up and ran away.

This happened because a few days earlier, Gu Chen had tricked Oscar into gambling with him, causing Oscar to lose a lot of money.

The “Profound Heart Technique” could absorb all kinds of energy, including one’s luck. Oscar initially won some money but soon lost continuously and signed many IOUs.

Gu Chen took these IOUs to Oscar and claimed he had learned some gambling techniques from a gambling god.

If Oscar could apply a tasteless, colorless drug to Dai Mubai’s belt during their fight, their debts would be wiped clean, and Gu Chen would teach him the gambling techniques he knew.

Gu Chen was not lying. In his previous life, when avenging his master, he had indeed studied gambling with a master known as the legendary gambling saint, Hong Qiusheng.

After much hesitation, Oscar agreed, secretly eager to see Dai Mubai embarrassed, especially since Ning Rongrong often said he was as manly as Dai Mubai.

Since Gu Chen’s arrival, Oscar realized this kid was full of mischief but strangely not disliked.

Ning Rongrong, who despised smooth talkers, found Oscar’s pure-heartedness more reliable after Gu Chen repeatedly bested her verbally.

Gu Chen’s constant provocations—making them cry one moment and laugh the next—were all to stimulate their internal energy.

With a keen sense of danger, Gu Chen felt a storm was about to strike and that he must hurry to improve himself.

Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji had promised him a break after reaching level thirty.

Although Zhao Wuji was inconsistent—promising him two days off after completing training but later retracting because Gu Chen’s foundation was unstable, then again after foundation was solid and he reached level ten, insisting he needed a century-old spirit ring first—Gu Chen remained stuck at the academy.

When Gu Chen resisted training, Zhao Wuji threatened to reveal his secrets and even demonstrated single-palm stone breaking.

Muttering to himself, “Some stones are stubborn; if I don’t break them, they’ll keep testing my limits…”

This left Gu Chen constantly led by the nose, but fortunately, Zhao Wuji protected him. No matter how much trouble he caused, Zhao Wuji turned a blind eye and sometimes even defended him.

Just now, Zhao Wuji had been observing in the shadows and came out only when things went awry, ensuring Gu Chen’s gratitude. Though seeming simple, Zhao Wuji was deeply calculating.

Despite Gu Chen’s progress in “Profound Heart Technique” and reaching a small accomplishment in the “Qi Circulation” realm, he still couldn’t fathom Zhao Wuji’s true thoughts.

After Dai Mubai left, Zhu Zhuqing accompanied Gu Chen for several hours of training. As night fell, she led Gu Chen through the forest to hunt a soul beast called the Red Flame Rat.

The Red Flame Rat was about the size of a common rat, cloaked in red flames. It specialized in fire attacks, was exceptionally swift, and possessed a strong sense of danger.

Catching one tested a spirit master’s eyesight, speed, and agility and required a silkworm silk glove to avoid burns.

Gu Chen’s goal tonight was to capture fifty Red Flame Rats within two hours; failure meant no food tomorrow and doubled training intensity.

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Bonus:

After Tang San went out on his journey, Xiao Wu couldn’t sleep and sat on the rooftop hugging her knees. The autumn night breeze was cool, and she shivered, tightening her arms.

Inside his room, Gu Chen was cultivating the Profound Heart Technique, entering a state of selflessness and merging with the world within a ten-mile radius. Suddenly, he noticed a slender girl staring blankly into the distance—it was none other than Xiao Wu.

What was she doing? She looked troubled…

Feeling some guilt for having fallen asleep right after their initial encounter, Gu Chen, knowing well how to heal a wounded heart, decided to help Xiao Wu.

He sat beside her. “Senior Xiao Wu, are you feeling down?”

“No, I just want to be alone. Why did you come up here?”

“I was thinking of someone and unconsciously came here.”

“You, always acting mischievous.”

Xiao Wu covered her mouth and smiled softly, her gloom lessened.

“Hehe… Senior, have you ever heard of the xiao flute?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s an instrument that, when played, can lift one’s spirits.”

“What does it look like?”

“Please take a look.” Gu Chen took out a six-hole xiao flute, five holes in front and one at the back.

“The xiao is a wind instrument suitable for solo and ensemble play. There are the dong xiao and qin xiao varieties, both single-tube and vertically blown, mostly made of bamboo with the blowing hole at the top. Based on the number of finger holes, there are six-hole and eight-hole xiaos. The six-hole has five holes in front and one at the back; the eight-hole has seven in front and one at the back. This one in my hand is a six-hole xiao.”

“Looks nice. Would the junior play a tune for me?”

“Of course, but since it’s the academy, everyone’s probably asleep. Senior, please come with me.”

“Okay.” Xiao Wu nodded gently.

Gu Chen led her to a small stream beside a sparse forest and gazed up at the bright moonlight as he began to play.

The flute’s melody was gentle and flowing, shimmering alongside the silver moonlight on the water. Xiao Wu was enchanted.

After a long time, the piece ended, and Xiao Wu looked at Gu Chen with lingering feelings.

Gu Chen stood with one hand behind his back, eyes fixed on the stars, softly chanting:

“What is love in this world, that makes one pledge life and death?

Travelers flying north and south, their old wings feeling the cold through seasons.

Joy and fun, separation and sorrow, among them, the foolish lovers…”

Listening to Gu Chen’s heartfelt words and recalling the flute’s mournful yet beautiful tune, Xiao Wu was immersed in a sorrowful but enchanting story, losing herself…

At that moment, Gu Chen radiated a faint glow, giving him an ethereal presence. Her heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

“Junior Gu Chen, what was the name of the piece you just played? Why does it feel so sad?”

“‘Lone Star’s Soliloquy.’ Do you like it?”

“Mm.” Xiao Wu nodded deeply.

“Would you like to learn it?”

“Yes!”

“Then I can teach you.”

“Great! Junior, you’re so kind!”

Xiao Wu quickly kissed Gu Chen on the cheek and lowered her head shyly. “Consider it a reward!”

Gu Chen smiled and draped his arm over her fragrant shoulder, spontaneously composing:

“There’s a beauty with enchanting eyes, unforgettable once seen, thought of with wild longing…”

That night, Gu Chen taught Xiao Wu to play the xiao flute, and unknowingly, a new figure took shape in her heart.

She thought to herself that it might not be so bad if Tang San returned a little later…

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