Chapter 48: Encountering Shi Kong

Over the next two days, no one came to provoke Li Luo again, though whenever he went out, the gazes cast his way seemed to carry a hint of peculiarity.

But would Li Luo care about this? Obviously not.

After all, compared to what he had experienced over the past two years, this was truly not worth mentioning.

White Spirit Garden, Wind-Dining Pavilion.

Li Luo and Zhao Kuo came here to find food, but upon going upstairs, they found the spacious hall packed to the brim, filled everywhere with vibrant young men and women, with bursts of laughter and chatter rising from time to time.

"There are too many people," Zhao Kuo said, speechless.

Li Luo was also a bit helpless and was just about to leave when he saw someone waving at him from a window seat not far away.

Looking closely, it was actually Lu Qinger.

"Let's go, let's go grab a meal."

Seeing this, Li Luo did not stand on ceremony and walked over with Zhao Kuo, though only upon getting closer did he see that Ti Faqing and Song Yunfeng were also at the table with Lu Qinger.

"If you don't mind, just sit here; there are still empty seats," Lu Qinger said, pointing with her slender jade finger to the vacant spots.

Ti Faqing, sitting at the same table, glanced at Li Luo with her beautiful eyes, but she did not mock him as she had in the past, instead quietly drinking her water.

Song Yunfeng, however, frowned slightly, appropriately expressing some displeasure; he felt that anyone with a bit of awareness should know what to do at this time.

Then, he saw Li Luo plop down right next to him, laughing gratefully: "Classmates are the closest, after all. You've really helped us out of a tight spot."

The corners of Song Yunfeng's mouth twitched slightly, and he said indifferently: "Li Luo, I heard you caused trouble again. Now that there are so many people from other academies in White Spirit Garden, can you stop smearing the reputation of Southwind Academy? You make those of us who are also students of Southwind Academy feel quite embarrassed."

Hearing this, Li Luo pondered for a moment and said: "If my actions make you feel embarrassed, then I suggest you drop out immediately."

This remark caused anger to surface in Song Yunfeng's eyes, while Lu Qinger, on the side, curled the corners of her lips slightly.

Song Yunfeng sneered: "Whether I drop out or not is not for you to decide. Li Luo, I am doing this for your own good. Don't think that just because you fought to a draw with me in the preliminary exam, you can wantonly offend people from other academies. You know best whether that draw of yours is of any use here."

Li Luo, however, did not listen to his words, but instead said to Lu Qinger, who was calling over a waiter: "Help us order a meal, thanks."

Lu Qinger responded coldly and silently, but when she spoke to the waiter, she clearly added two expensive meals.

Seeing this, Song Yunfeng's anger grew even more, and a faint fire of jealousy rose within him, because he had never been spoken to like that by Lu Qinger, yet this bastard Li Luo dared to order her around right in front of him.

"The grand exam starts tomorrow. Are you all prepared?" Lu Qinger clearly did not intend to let them continue their sarcasm, so she took the initiative to speak.

Everyone nodded, and the topic shifted accordingly.

Li Luo did not participate much, instead burying his head in his food.

But halfway through the meal, he suddenly noticed the atmosphere at the table pause slightly, and immediately sensing something, he looked in one direction, only to see a figure walking up.

The youth's appearance was not particularly outstanding, but he faintly exuded an oppressive aura—an aura that, even with the gentle smile on his face, made one dare not underestimate him.

East Abyss Academy, Shi Kong, son of the Viceroy of Tianshu Prefecture.

As this Shi Kong came upstairs, his gaze went straight to Li Luo and the others, and he walked over with a smile: "Everyone, would you mind if I pulled up a chair?"

Lu Qinger raised her eyes and said indifferently: "Sorry, it's full."

Shi Kong smiled and borrowed a chair from nearby; the people at that table clearly recognized him, so no one dared to stop him.

Shi Kong sat down on the other side of Song Yunfeng and said: "Qinger, my father and your father are acquaintances, after all; there's no need to be so cold, is there?"

"You and I are competitors by nature, why pretend to be friendly? Isn't it tiring to put on an act?" Lu Qinger said.

Shi Kong gave a helpless smile and said: "You and I will both inevitably enter the Saint Profound Star Academy in the future; we will be classmates then, so there is no need to be so distant."

"Yunfeng, don't you agree?" he asked Song Yunfeng, who was sitting to the side.

Song Yunfeng nodded with a calm expression.

Li Luo, feeling satisfied, put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Lu Qinger, and said: "Finished? Want to go for a walk to digest?"

Hearing this, Lu Qinger nodded her head slightly; she naturally knew that Li Luo was helping her resolve the situation, as she did not want to stay here and talk nonsense with the fake-looking Shi Kong.

Seeing this, Shi Kong narrowed his eyes slightly. He picked up a broad bean with his fingers, then flicked his finger; a faint sound of thunder seemed to ring out, and a silver light shot directly toward Li Luo's face with lightning speed.

However, just as the silver light was about to hit Li Luo, a chopstick radiating cold air flew in, knocking the broad bean—which was wrapped in thunder-attribute power—away. The chopstick then slammed into a pillar, the spreading frost causing white rime to appear nearby.

Lu Qinger stared at Shi Kong with cold eyes, a chill rising around her body as she said: "Shi Kong, don't go looking for trouble."

The commotion here caused some disturbance in the hall. Gazes of shock and suspicion were cast over, and when they realized the conflict was between Lu Qinger and Shi Kong, they became highly interested. Could it be that the two most capable contenders for first place in this year's academy grand exam were going to fight early right here?

Amidst the many gazes, Shi Kong smiled: "A slip of the hand, a slip of the hand. Young Mansion Master, please don't be angry."

Li Luo shook his head and said helplessly: "I'm not angry, it's just that you're wasting food. It seems your upbringing is not up to standard, brother. Doesn't Viceroy Shi teach you? If you're short on whips at home, I can send you a couple."

Shi Kong kept his smile and said: "The Young Mansion Master is right, I will be more careful next time."

"Admitting your mistakes and correcting them—that makes you a good boy."

Li Luo nodded in praise, then turned and left with Zhao Kuo.

Lu Qinger cast a cold glance at Shi Kong and followed, while Ti Faqing hurried to keep up, and Song Yunfeng looked at Shi Kong for a moment before rising to leave.

Shi Kong watched their departing figures, unbothered. He reached out and tossed the remaining broad beans from the plate into his mouth, chewing lightly with a smile on his lips, though his eyes were cold.

"Is this Li Luo hiding his strength, or is he truly incapable? I wanted to test him out."

He whispered to himself, then smiled and shook his head.

Never mind, a crippled Young Mansion Master shouldn't be much of a threat. As long as Lu Qinger is eliminated, Southwind Academy will certainly not be able to hold onto the title of the number one academy in Tianshu Prefecture this time.

But this guy is really annoying.

It seems necessary to make some arrangements to have him kicked out and eliminated early.

(End of chapter)