Chapter 2

The boy who flew on his sword had a posture like a pine and cypress, his long eyebrows reaching his temples.

He seemed like a drawn sword, sharp and flashing with a deterring cold light; even his glance carried an awe-inspiring menace.

But the icy sword tip was covered with even colder frost, as if a substantive chill kept others from daring to approach.

Although he was still just a youth, his bearing already foreshadowed the aura he would possess later.

Upon seeing Pei Junheng arrive, some sword cultivator disciples hurriedly complained to their young sect master about the misdeeds of the pill cultivators.

"Young Sect Master! Wen Qingyin stole your sword tassel and even dared to claim he took it after defeating you in battle!" Qiu Sanchi said this, and the bitter taste still not fully swallowed in his mouth welled up again; he deliberately glared at Wen Qingyin over there.

Facing the gazes of Qiu Sanchi and Pei Junheng, Wen Qingyin showed no fear at all; he even extended his right wrist to proudly display the sword tassel tied there.

Pei Junheng's eyes sank, but Wen Qingyin raised his lips and provocatively lifted one eyebrow.

The beautiful little peacock displayed its opened tail feathers in the posture of a victor.

"Wen Qingyin, you're going too far!"

Qiu Sanchi let out an angry roar, then flew on his sword toward Wen Qingyin, but as soon as he reached the ship, Zi Shu Zhi grabbed him and pulled him off the sword.

Qiu Sanchi, who had quickly reacted, again started fighting with Zi Shu Zhi.

The scene descended into chaos again.

And, Wen Qingyin, looking through the crowd at Pei Junheng, who was flying his sword and at a distance from him, unlike his previous arrogant expression, now his face turned cold.

Facing Pei Junheng, he didn't want to give him any good looks.

He again took out a medicinal pill from his medicine pouch, and Wen Qingyin clenched it in his hand without changing his expression.

Unlike sword cultivators who take the sword as their weapon, pill cultivators' weapons are only the medicinal pills they refine in their hands.

They cultivate medicinal pills of various grades, and likewise they need to use various methods to drive the pills in their hands into the opponent's body.

Whether they save lives or cause harm depends on which medicinal pill the pill cultivator holds.

At that moment, a birdcall that echoed through heaven and earth rang out.

Before the fighters could stop, a note riding on white feathers drifted over and scattered like clouds above everyone's heads.

Then came an immortal's voice message: "This is a controlled zone of Yingzhou Academy; who is causing a brawl here?"

The voice rang loud as a great bell, exuding an inviolable dignity.

The two sides, still locked in frenzied melee, finally ceased fighting—but before stopping, Zi Shu Zhi and Qiu Sanchi each gave the other a vicious kick.

The two immortals who had arrived on auspicious beasts easily saw that the battlefield still bore traces of spiritual combat; looking at the two groups clearly this year's new students of the academy, their faces grew stern.

"In Yingzhou Academy's controlled zone, fighting is forbidden..."

Thus a dark crowd of people, wearing the two different sect uniforms, stood before the immortals receiving a lecture; even though they were being lectured together, they remained clearly distinct, neither side wanting to get even slightly closer.

The Yingzhou Academy immortal droned on about the academy's rules and such things as fighting harming friendships, while Wen Qingyin, standing in the crowd, absentmindedly gazed at Pei Junheng not far away.

Pei Junheng's profile against the light was a perfect silhouette; his straight nose bridge looked higher than the highest peak on Penglai Island, and the alpine frost snow covering it added an inviolable chill to his handsome features, while his slightly pursed lips hinted at a depth of aloofness.

Wen Qingyin understood that they had violated academy rules here and would be punished by the academy immortals, and the lingering traces of spiritual power on their bodies were the best evidence of their participation in the brawl—but Pei Junheng, who arrived later, was spotless, with not a trace.

He did not want to let Pei Junheng escape punishment so easily.

Anyone could, but not Pei Junheng.

Clutching the medicinal pill in his hand, Wen Qingyin stealthily approached Pei Junheng and, with the speed of thunder before one can cover one's ears, reached out to crush the pill.

But at the very moment of success, another large hand firmly seized Wen Qingyin's hand, easily wrapping around his entire wrist, fingertips pressing from the base of his fingers, locking his slender white fingers in place.

Meeting those cold eyes, it seemed as if they could effortlessly see through his intentions.

Don't even think about getting away unscathed!

With his hand held fast and unable to move an inch, Wen Qingyin's heart tightened and he opened his mouth to bite Pei Junheng's hand.

But Pei Junheng moved even faster; his sharp canine was caught by the other's fingertip, and his immense strength prevented Wen Qingyin from biting down, so he could only grind his teeth hard against Pei Junheng's hand.

"Wen Qingyin... are you a dog?"

The grating voice came from above, and Wen Qingyin's teeth-grinding grew more vicious.

"Although the academy's rules are strict and cannot be violated, since you are first-time offenders, I will temporarily waive your punishment... you two over there! Why are you still fighting?"

The immortal was giving ideological education to this group of new academy entrants, originally thinking they would remember this lesson and not reoffend, but he hadn't expected two disciples to dare continue fighting right under their noses.

As soon as the words fell, the disciples of both sects on the whole ship turned their gaze to the two individuals linked together.

In the hearts of both sides there was only one thought: "No wonder they are the young sect masters; such trivial academy rules mean nothing!"

Under everyone's gaze, Wen Qingyin finally released his mouth.

Pei Junheng expressionlessly withdrew his hand, the back of which bore two tooth marks from Wen Qingyin's bite; in the light, a crystalline layer coated his finger joints—saliva left by Wen Qingyin on his hand.

He took out a moon-colored handkerchief and wiped away the glimmer on his fingertips; his dark eyes looked at Wen Qingyin, but Wen Qingyin showed no fear, flashing a smile, for the earlier rubbing had reddened his lips, especially the lip buds, which looked like flower buds about to bloom.

Even as the immortal's reprimand still echoed in his ears, Wen Qingyin looked at Pei Junheng and licked the tip of his scarlet tongue provocatively against his own teeth.

Truly lawless and heaven-defying!

The ignored immortal grew angry and shouted: "You two!"

The immortal's finger pointed heavily at Pei Junheng and Wen Qingyin: "Come with me alone to the academy!"

Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng were personally escorted by two immortals to the office of the academy's dean at Yingzhou Academy.

This special treatment, granted to the two sect heirs on their first day of enrollment, is a unique honor unmatched in a hundred years.

Chang Fu Shangjun rubbed his forehead as he looked at the two youths before him; he had long heard of the grudge between the Yun Zhong Immortal Gate and the Wan Zhou Sword Sect, after all, the feud between the two sects had become known throughout the inland ten continents and four immortal mountains.

He simply hadn't expected that disciples of these two sects would actually fight on the very first day of enrollment, even before reaching Yingzhou Academy.

Especially the two sect heirs of the Yun Zhong Immortal Gate and the Wan Zhou Sword Sect, due to the severity of their conduct and their refusal to mend, were escorted by the immortals to the dean's office.

……Really a headache.

Chang Fu Shangjun supported his forehead with his hand, his face troubled as he said: "I'm not good at handling this sort of thing; Qing Xuan Shangjun, what do you think should be done?"

Qing Xuan Shangjun, seated upright, smiled with a face, his narrow eyes crinkling like a bad fox feigning kindness.

He addressed Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng before him: "Since we've come to Yingzhou Academy, we are all fellow students; shouldn't fellow students get along harmoniously?"…

Never expected Qing Xuan Shangjun to spout these false grand principles as soon as he spoke; hearing it, Wen Qingyin couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly—he and Pei Junheng had already fallen out when they were eighteen.

Wen Qingyin lowered his eyes.

Friendly classmate camaraderie could never exist between him and Pei Junheng.

Chang Fu Shangjun also wondered in his heart how Qing Xuan Shangjun could one day utter such bland platitudes, but seeing Qing Xuan Shangjun's smiling, crescent eyes, he felt the matter wasn't that simple.

"But since you've violated the academy rules, I still have to give you some punishment."

Taking in Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng's reactions, Qing Xuan Shangjun shifted the topic and finally got to the point.

He rested his elbows on the table, overlapping his hands and propping his chin on the backs of his hands.

Qing Xuan Shangjun's gaze shifted between the angry Wen Qingyin and the cold Pei Junheng as he smiled and announced his decided punishment.

"Punish you to hold hands; you may not let go until you reach the Nothing Hall."

"I don't accept it!"

Wen Qingyin immediately objected loudly.

"I disagree."

Pei Junheng also spoke up.

Hearing Pei Junheng's voice, Wen Qingyin turned his head and happened to meet Pei Junheng's eyes; Wen Qingyin snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Making him hold hands with Pei Junheng is something impossible in this lifetime.

Seemingly having already anticipated their opposition, Qing Xuan Shangjun still wore a good-tempered smile.

"Disagreement is fine; out of humanitarian principles, we've prepared another punishment plan."

Wen Qingyin's eyes lit up with hope.

As long as we don't make him hold hands with Pei Junheng, everything can be discussed.

Qing Xuan Shangjun brought out the second punishment plan on a tray, his tone relaxed.

"As long as the two of you, at the opening ceremony, loudly shout fifty times in front of all the academy disciples, 'Wen Qingyin and Pei Junheng are the best in the world,' that'll do."

Wen Qingyin: ……

Not even death would make it acceptable.

"Which will you choose, the first or the second plan?"

Qing Xuan Shangjun's tone was gentle, his voice like a soft spring breeze.

A long silence.

But Qing Xuan Shangjun had enough patience; he continued to narrow his eyes at the two of them.

He wanted neither plan.

But comparatively, it was clear which plan was more acceptable.

Wen Qingyin already had an answer in mind, but he didn't want to decide before Pei Junheng spoke.

It made it seem as if he really wanted to hold hands with Pei Junheng.

Wen Qingyin muttered to himself.

"The first one."

Pei Junheng's voice came from beside him.

"And what about you, Qingyin?" Qing Xuan Shangjun turned to Wen Qingyin.

"Then I'll go with the first one too," Wen Qingyin replied, feigning reluctance.

After making their choice, the two stood motionless like wooden posts, prompting Qing Xuan Shangjun to urge: "Come on, hold hands."

Wen Qingyin turned his head with difficulty; Pei Junheng had already reached out his hand.

Just as he was about to reach out, his gaze met Pei Junheng's eyes.

Not knowing whether it was due to the shame and anxiety in his heart, Wen Qingyin turned his head to avoid Pei Junheng's gaze; unable to see, his hand flailed several times before finally touching Pei Junheng's fingertip.

Pei Junheng's finger was warm.

Before Wen Qingyin could react, the hand that had made contact seized his first, Pei Junheng's much larger palm easily enveloping half of his hand.

"You need to interlock all ten fingers."

Qing Xuan Shangjun added with a smile.

Wen Qingyin's heart jolted; the other's palm brushed across the back of his hand, and the next second his fingertips forcefully slipped in.

Ten fingers pressed tightly together; the warmth of the palms felt as if it scorched his heart.