Chapter 304: Gathering

"Alright, that's enough, let go quickly."

"No."

"It's very hard for me to operate like this..."

"Then you think of a way."

"Chen Banxia is watching from outside."

"Let her watch."

"Xiaoxiao is here."

"She can't see."

"Zhang Suannai is here too."

"She's dazed."

"The food is about to burn."

"It's just potato pancakes."

"How much longer are you going to hug me?"

"A long time."

"..."

Chen Shu silently gripped the iron pan and flipped it.

Behind him came Ning Qing's voice again, clear and faint, very soft:

"I can feel it."

"What?"

"You're stirred with emotion..."

"Nonsense!"

"Kiss me once, and I'll let you go."

"..."

Chen Shu turned around, eyeing the three people standing in a row in the courtyard outside, facing them, and suddenly coughed twice:

"Ahem."

The little girl withdrew her gaze, turned her head left and right, looked at the dazed Chen Banxia and the expressionless Zhang Suannai beside her respectively, and pondered: "The pink dragon my sister planted has already climbed to the roof, and the flowers that bloomed are about to wither again. Petals have been falling every day recently, let's go cut them off..."

After saying that, she took one by the hand with each of her own.

Chen Banxia and Zhang Suannai turned around mechanically, like zombies controlled by a Daoist, and followed her toward the corner of the courtyard.

Only then did Chen Shu lower his head.

"Mr. Chen." Ning Qing met his gaze, her expression calm and indifferent, "You swallowed your saliva."

Chen Shu did not answer, but adjusted his stance to face her.

Secret Technique: Chicken Pecking Rice Style!

Half an hour later.

With the help of Chen Banxia and Zhang Suannai, the little girl cut off all the rose flowers at the high places, so they wouldn't drop petals every day. Every time she came over, her hateful sister would order her to sweep the floor, and it wasn't even her who planted them... Besides, some petals were very thin; once they got wet and stuck to the ground, they were a nightmare to sweep.

Of course, cutting the flowers only took five minutes; the following twenty-five minutes were for checking to see if any had been missed.

Until they returned to the courtyard.

The little girl looked at the plate of obviously burnt potato pancakes in front of her and remained silent for a long time.

In the end, it was a wasted effort.

April 20th, the Martial Body Meet off-campus group began.

Chen Shu had already obtained a temporary pass for the Military Academy, and through Luo Huaian, had also arranged one for Qingqing and Xiaoxiao. At the same time, just like the year before last, he applied for a Standard Longsword provided by the organizers, intending to keep it as a collection after the competition.

Early in the morning, the group arrived at the Military Academy.

On the training ground, students were training, putting in great effort, their rhythmic shouts merging into one.

Chen Shu looked at his Mobile Phone while walking.

Gate of All Wonders: What time is everyone's match?

Gate of All Wonders: Mine is at two in the afternoon.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Three in the afternoon.

Qingcai Keke: Eleven in the morning.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Ten in the morning.

Grandma Always Says: Same, ten in the morning.

Qingcai Keke: Oh my, a rare guest.

Qingcai Keke: Haven't seen you pop up in the group for many days.

Grandma Always Says: /smile

Gate of All Wonders: Then let's meet at Santisitang at eleven-twenty at noon. It seems their Military Academy doesn't start serving meals until eleven-thirty at the earliest and twelve at the latest. There should only be us in the canteen at that time. Qingcai Caike should be able to finish the battle within a minute, right?

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Good.

Qingcai Keke: Good.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Good.

Just Call Him Luo Huaian: Good.

Zhao Yeqing: Good.

Grandma Always Says: Hope you all eat happily /scatter flowers and spin around

Qingcai Keke:?

Just Call Me Luo Huaian:?

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: You aren't coming?

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: I specifically returned to the country early to see you.

Grandma Always Says: Who are you?

Grandma Always Says: Do I know you?

Grandma Always Says: /Jumps up and slaps you across the face.

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: You'll know when you see me.

Grandma Always Says: Fine!

Grandma Always Says: Eleven-twenty!

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha, this humble monk just saw someone being chased by a group of Military Academy students, and they were playing on their Mobile Phone while running.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Benefactor Grandma, is that you?

Grandma Always Says: Obviously not!

Grandma Always Says: But hearing you say that, the quality of these Military Academy students is truly too poor! Regardless of who it is, they are guests from afar; chasing them around shows neither discipline nor the way of hospitality. I hereby express my severe disdain for this behavior.

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: Focus on running away.

Grandma Always Says: I have something to do, I'll stop chatting for now.

At this very moment, Chen Shu heard a commotion and couldn't help but look up.

He saw a youthful and beautiful figure running past the training ground ahead, followed by a long line of Military Academy students. While being chased all over the place, that person was loudly shouting that the Military Academy students didn't understand the way of hospitality, threatening one moment to report them to the Discipline Inspection Commission, the next to the school, the next to the Armed Forces Department, and the next...

"Holding a grudge for two years, you guys are really something!

"I've already filmed it!

"I'm posting it online right now!

"Do you know how many followers I have now? I'm going to buy a trending search! Just to scold you guys!

"Eh? Qingqing, Xiaoxiao, Taozi, and that someone else, morning...

"What a... coincidence...

"Come watch my match later! Ten o'clock! Martial Arts Arena 15! I'm heading over first...

"Ouch! Can't catch me, can't catch me!

"..."

The voice grew closer, then grew further away.

The three people and one cat looked up and stared silently in that direction until that string of figures completely disappeared, and only then did they withdraw their gazes.

"Buzz, buzz."

Grandma Always Says: I want to ask, if, if the person being chased by the Military Academy students wants to shake off this pack of mad dogs, where should they run?

A large-scale melon-seed-eating scene.

Chen Shu grinned and put away his Mobile Phone.

"Let's go."

"Go where?"

"To Martial Arts Arena 17." Chen Shu started walking, "My roommate also has a match at ten, let's go watch my roommate. Zhang Suannai isn't worth watching; either you watch her show off her skills on the Arena, or she ends the fight in a second. My roommate is better to watch."

"Mm."

Ning Qing's hand had been gripping his wrist the whole time; when he walked forward, she was naturally pulled along with him.

Over these past ten days, Chen Shu had long since grown accustomed to it.

It was nothing more than realizing one point: the slight distance Qingqing had previously maintained from him was almost entirely the result of restraint, stemming from worry and hesitation. Once in a "worry-free" state, no longer worried and completely without hesitation, she was no different from a normal young girl in love, very willing to be close to the person she liked.

Nine-fifty-eight, Martial Arts Arena 17.

Chen Shu found a good spot to sit. Qingqing and Xiaoxiao sat on his left and right sides respectively. He took Taozi from Xiaoxiao's arms, placed it on his lap, and while stroking its belly, looked toward the stage.

After waiting for two minutes, the sound of a gong rang out.

The two people immediately lunged forward and collided.

Brother Jiang's opponent in this match was a Wangting Sword Sect member from the Military Academy, with cultivation at about the Fourth Rank Peak. As soon as both sides exchanged blows, they entered a high-energy phase.

The Wangting Sword Sect members do not nourish a Spirit Sword, do not practice the Sword Control Technique, and emphasize Human-Sword Unity. They cultivate the method of endless sharpness, using extreme speed and footwork to pursue a Sword that can sever all things in the world, in order to achieve the ultimate killing Sword Dao. Compared to the harsh requirements for talent in Traditional Sword Cultivators, they value acquired effort relatively more, but in terms of combat power, they are not weaker than Traditional Sword Cultivators.

Although Brother Jiang was at the Fifth Stage, it was still very easy for a Martial Artist to be at a disadvantage when facing a Cultivator, especially one who had walked out of such a top-tier sect.

Added to the fact that the opponent had a Sword, it was even easier to be at a disadvantage.

Chen Shu stared at the stage without blinking.

One could tell at a glance that this Wangting Sword Sect member from the Military Academy was by no means comparable to those Fourth Stage university students from Yujing Academy or Ling'an Academy; he truly possessed skilled combat and killing techniques.

Worthy of being from the Military Academy, worthy of being from the Wangting Sword Sect.

Brother Jiang's speed and reactions were no slower than his, but because Martial Artists lack Spirit Power and Cultivator methods, relying only on Rune defense and physical defense, he simply couldn't block the Wangting Sword Sect member's indestructible Sword. Therefore, every time the Sword swept past, another wound appeared on his body, and his own Rune attack ability was not necessarily stronger than this Sword Cultivator's.

At the very beginning, Brother Jiang still used the fighting style common in the Underground Arena, prioritizing defense, but he soon realized that this wouldn't work. This opponent and the Martial Artists in the Underground Arena were completely different concepts; if it continued, he would only lose the match covered in wounds.

Thus, he switched from defense to offense.

One was a top-tier contestant who made people despair in the Underground Arena, and the other was a Wangting Sword Sect member known for killing combat power. For a time, the two traded injury for injury on the Arena, fighting with extreme intensity, their speed so fast it was almost impossible to see clearly.

Many blood spots bloomed on the ground.

Chen Shu couldn't help but use his hand to block Taozi's eyes.

Taozi, however, used a small paw to press down on his hand, poked its head out, and continued to stare ahead.

Chen Shu looked to his side again.

His sister-in-law was also staring at the Arena without blinking. Seeming to notice his gaze, she turned her head, met his eyes, and then tilted her head, expressing confusion toward him. After not receiving an answer, she continued to look at the Arena.

Chen Shu was truly afraid that the violent genes in her Night Person Bloodline would be activated because of this.

Five minutes later.

Covered in wounds and dripping with blood, Brother Jiang silently pinned this Sword Cultivator to the ground, pressing down on the hand holding the Sword with his left hand, while his right hand smashed punch after punch into the opponent's face.

"Bang!

"Bang!

"Bang..."

It was truly too bloody and violent.

Chen Shu covered Taozi's face with one hand, and used his other hand to shield the little girl's eyes.

Taozi struggled vigorously, barking wildly.

The little girl, however, was much smarter—she leaned even closer to Chen Shu's palm, her eyelashes almost touching his hand, and continued to watch through the tiny gaps between his fingers, seemingly unaffected.

"Clang!"

The sound of a gong rang out.

Brother Jiang said nothing, decisively withdrew his hand, stood up, and simply bowed to his opponent.

The Wangting Sword Sect cultivator also had a resolute expression; he used his Sword to prop himself up, forced himself to stand, and nodded back at him, accepting his defeat very calmly. Even though he had originally felt that he could defeat an ordinary Five-stage Martial Artist.

"Yujing Academy, Jiang Lai wins!"

Immediately, both were rushed to medical care.

Eleven o'clock, Martial Arts Arena No. 11.

Chen Shu's match.

Perhaps because they couldn't find anything else to do, Zhang Suannai, Yan Keling, as well as Master Tongdeng and Master Xuanzhen, all came to watch the match.

The opponent was a Four-stage Martial Artist from Ling'an Academy.

The battle process was truly simple; one weak version of the Tracer Technique ended the fight.

Chen Shu didn't even dare to go all out—if he were to cast the Tracer Technique at full power now, a single shot would be no less than a heavy artillery bombardment. Furthermore, at his current level, whenever he used the Tracer Technique in earnest, it would be a volley, not a single shot.

"Yujing Academy, Chen Shu wins."

Chen Shu walked off the Martial Arts Arena, leaned down slightly, stared down at Taozi on Xiaoxiao's lap, raised an eyebrow, and asked:

"Impressive, right?"

Taozi held her head high, her eyes wide, meeting his gaze, yet no emotion could be discerned.

"Do you know who the head of the household is now?"

"Woof?"

Taozi turned her head to look at her owner beside her, then looked back at him.

"You stupid cat!"

"Awoo!"

"Let's go, time to eat!"

Chen Shu turned and walked out of the Martial Arts Arena.

Because Yan Keling had joined the group late and hadn't met the other group members much, she felt a bit shy, so she hurriedly ran over, sweetly greeting the senior brothers and sisters, and went along with them.

Having acquaintances around could bolster one's courage.