Chapter Thirty-Five: Finding an Opponent

In my heart, I was certain—this was the Red Stone Leaf!

First, it stayed cool to the touch even in the sweltering heat, and second, it was wrapped in a layer of spiritual energy. I glanced around; some classmates passed by, but none paid me any mind. I held the Red Stone Leaf tightly in my palm and quietly beckoned the other two over.

“I’ve found something, come here,” I whispered.

Clutching the leaf tightly, I waited for them to approach. Only after scanning the surroundings carefully did I slowly open my hand.

“This is it, let’s find somewhere to rest,” Chen Chen said, relieved to see I had found the Red Stone Leaf.

“Wait, I found one too,” Li Zijian announced, gingerly pulling a leaf from his pocket.

For a moment, I thought we had two, but that was just wishful thinking. What Li Zijian produced was a nearly dried-out leaf.

I couldn’t help but sigh, “Big fool.”

Without another word, I turned and walked toward the classroom.

Li Zijian trailed behind, muttering, “How could this be... I searched for so long...”

Chen Chen walked beside me, laughing wryly.

We had finished the task early, feeling relaxed, so I decided to return to the classroom—it was cool inside, and relatively safe.

On the way back, I passed many classmates, all suffering from the same affliction: drenched in sweat.

It wasn’t even noon yet, and most weren’t eager to search, instead lingering in the shade to escape the heat.

When we finally got back to the classroom, it was only two o’clock.

I thought to myself, “Ten hours left—what am I supposed to do?”

The classroom was empty. Li Zijian was already sprawled across his desk, fast asleep. Chen Chen was bored and sleepy, but I remained energetic.

I walked out to the corridor and began practicing the Eight-level Fist.

Though I had mastered the moves, they were still basic skills—against a real practitioner, they were insufficient.

I assumed the stance and punched the air with all my might.

My fists sliced through the air with a sharp, whistling sound; even without spiritual energy, I could easily produce that effect.

I spent the entire afternoon practicing, with no classmates around except Chen Chen, who watched me from the side.

I lost count of how many times I went through the routine, until sweat poured off me and I finally had to stop.

“Lin Yao, it seems like ever since the Ghost King appeared, you’ve been growing stronger,” Chen Chen said, joining me on the corridor windowsill. Each of us lit a cigarette.

“Maybe...” My reply was offhand, but my mind dwelled on it.

My parents were gone, there was no word about the Ghost King—sometimes it felt like I was alone in the world. I had to become stronger and drag the Ghost King out from the shadows.

Chen Chen nodded, half understanding, and said nothing more.

I pulled out my phone from my ring and checked the time—it was already past five in the afternoon.

I looked out at the playground; there were few people left, just a handful wandering aimlessly.

“Is the Ghost King’s game really this simple? Is the whole three days just about finding things?” Chen Chen suddenly asked, voicing the same suspicion I had—the game didn’t seem like the Ghost King’s style.

Just as he finished, a shout rang out from below, sounding like a girl’s voice. Soon after came the clatter of weapons.

“Nothing else to do—let’s go take a look,” I said, jumping down from the windowsill.

The two of us jogged downstairs, and soon realized the situation was far from simple.

A group of boys were brandishing various weapons, their faces twisted in mockery. Opposite them stood a slim boy with a knife.

I recognized him—it was Liu Liu, the class genius from Class Two. We’d competed together in math contests; our relationship was decent.

Beside him stood a girl, disheveled and haggard—Chen Yu from Class Two, usually the fresh and innocent type.

“Hand over the Red Stone Leaf and I’ll let you go. Otherwise... ha ha ha,” snarled the boys, their leering eyes fixed on Chen Yu. I knew exactly what they meant.

But Liu Liu’s response surprised me: “You filthy cowards! That leaf is mine. If you want it, you’ll have to kill me!”

Liu Liu was covered in blood; his legs trembled—he must have taken quite a beating.

I silently drew my Snow Blade, stepping out from the corner.

“Hey, get lost!” I barked, frowning at the group.

At a distance, I hadn’t noticed, but now I felt a familiar spiritual energy from one of them.

Still, I wasn’t afraid—how could I know if I’d lose if I didn’t try?

Liu Liu turned to look at me, tears welling in his eyes like a wronged child.

“Lin Yao?”

The boy with spiritual energy tilted his head at me. “So you’ve been hiding this well, huh?”

I understood immediately—he meant the spiritual energy on me.

I nodded indifferently, then cursed at the four or five boys. “What a bunch of shameless bastards—going after girls, huh?”

They were hot-tempered, and couldn’t stand my insults. They charged at me.

“Careful, Lin Yao!” Liu Liu called, but I was already smirking with confidence.

Against ordinary people without spiritual energy, I dispatched them one by one, effortlessly.

Only the boy with spiritual energy remained, looking at me with contempt.

“Come on!” I beckoned him.

He drew a pair of twin blades from his back, shimmering with green light.

He charged at me with fierce speed, matching mine.

Yet I didn’t draw my blade, relying on solid Eight-level Fist techniques to spar with him.

He was trained, every sweeping strike hiding a deadly intent.

To outsiders, it looked like I was being forced back, but in truth, he never touched me.

Once I grasped his pattern, I began to counterattack—he grew angrier, shouting,

“Draw your blade!”

“Alright~” I stepped back, gathered spiritual energy, and summoned the Snow Blade once more.

Everyone present gasped in astonishment.

Now it was my turn to attack.

I leaped high and brought the blade down hard—a move that had never failed me.

He blocked in a hurry, and to my surprise, his twin blades merely bent without breaking.

I had finally found a worthy opponent.

I pressed the attack, and though I had no fixed technique, my relentless strikes wore him down.

At last, when I unleashed a final blow infused with spiritual energy, he suddenly flicked a cloud of white smoke from his sleeve.

Alarmed, I realized something was wrong.

The smoke spread around me, blinding my vision and making it hard to breathe.

Gradually, we all felt our breathing grow labored.