Translator: CinderTL
Star City Academy, Library.
After a morning of studying, Feng Qi had gained a new understanding of cultivation studies. However, progress came gradually; instant mastery was unrealistic.
With no cultivation exchange class scheduled for the day, he decided to grab lunch first, his stomach growling, and return to the library for more study in the afternoon.
Just as he stood up, a figure blocked his path.
It was a young man, about seventeen or eighteen years old, strikingly handsome with a gentle, refined beauty. His ebony eyes fixed intently on Feng Qi before he smiled and extended a hand.
"Hello, I'm Lin Ran. I had the pleasure of hearing your lecture yesterday. Your explanation of physical techniques was truly remarkable."
"Hmm? Lin Ran?" A flicker of surprise crossed Feng Qi's face.
The name immediately reminded him of the Winterfrost Academy exchange student who had been receiving rave reviews on the Star City Academy forum lately.
"You're the exchange student from Winterfrost Academy, Lin Ran?" Feng Qi asked directly.
"I never imagined Senior Brother would have heard of me. I'm flattered," Lin Ran said with a smile, scratching his head. His gaze drifted to the books in Feng Qi's hands, curious about what the senior student typically read.
But when he saw the title on the book cover—Cultivation Technique Research Mid-Stage Advancement - Volume 3—his expression turned somewhat bewildered.
In Lin Ran's eyes, Feng Qi possessed unique insights into martial arts and a profound understanding of cultivation studies, so thorough that he could even establish his own school of thought. Yet here he was, flipping through a foundational text on cultivation studies. This seemed utterly illogical.
However, Lin Ran quickly concocted an explanation for Feng Qi's behavior.
Only with a solid foundation can one truly forge a new path in cultivation studies. As expected of Senior Brother.
With this thought, Lin Ran's gaze toward Feng Qi carried a hint of admiration.
"Senior Brother, I've written down everything you explained about the Fierce Tiger Fist yesterday, but I still have many questions. I hope you can guide me."
As he spoke, Lin Ran produced a black-covered notebook from who-knows-where, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"You can ask me anything you don't understand, but please don't call me Senior Brother... Also, I'm going to lunch now. Come find me in the library this afternoon." Feng Qi felt slightly awkward under Lin Ran's fiery enthusiasm.
Feng Qi didn't know much about Lin Ran, but from the forum's student reviews, he understood that Lin Ran was an exceptionally talented student in Cultivation Technique research. Like Old Wang of history class, he had already been pre-admitted to the Tiger Soul Research Institute before graduation.
Feng Qi had a good impression of Lin Ran and was willing to clarify some aspects of the Fierce Tiger Fist technique, hoping it would aid Lin Ran's growth.
"I'm hungry too! Why don't we have lunch together?" Lin Ran suggested, immediately making himself comfortable.
Having decided to connect with Lin Ran, Feng Qi accepted the lunch invitation without hesitation.
After returning the book to the shelf, they left the library and headed toward the cafeteria.
Along the way, Lin Ran seemed genuinely excited, constantly expressing his admiration for Feng Qi.
This left Feng Qi feeling rather speechless. He had intended to make a friend, but now it felt like he had acquired a sycophant.
By the time they reached the academy cafeteria, the peak lunch hour had passed, and most students had already left. However, Mu Qing was still sitting in her usual corner in the north, her table piled high with food as always, regardless of the weather.
After filling his tray with the food he wanted, Feng Qi headed toward Mu Qing's table.
Seeing this, Lin Ran immediately followed.
Feng Qi set his tray down in front of Mu Qing and sat down beside her. Lin Ran promptly took the seat next to him.
Mu Qing glanced up, unsurprised to see Feng Qi, but taken aback by the additional person at the table.
Accustomed to dining alone, she felt slightly awkward, though her expression remained unchanged. She lowered her head and continued eating heartily, not even acknowledging Feng Qi's presence.
"Hello, Senior Sister! I'm Lin Ran, nice to meet you!" Before Feng Qi could speak, Lin Ran introduced himself, extending a polite hand.
Mu Qing glanced at Lin Ran before coldly lowering her head to resume eating.
Lin Ran slowly withdrew his outstretched hand and turned to Feng Qi, his expression slightly awkward.
"Senior Brother, you've taken so much food! Can you really finish it all? Even though the academy's meals are free, wasting food is shameful..."
"Less talking while eating," Feng Qi snapped, glaring at the chatterbox Lin Ran as he grabbed an egg tart and stuffed it into his mouth.
Finding that Feng Qi and Mu Qing were ignoring him, Lin Ran turned his attention to his own plate.
In stark contrast to Feng Qi and Mu Qing's beast-like eating habits, Lin Ran ate with refined grace, holding his chopsticks and chewing each bite slowly and deliberately.
But his composure soon crumbled.
The sheer volume of food Feng Qi and Mu Qing consumed was staggering. The mountain of dishes on the table visibly dwindled at an alarming rate.
Lin Ran even began to suspect that the two figures beside him weren't human at all, but rather domain creatures in disguise.
After Feng Qi finished his own plate, he casually snatched a steak from Mu Qing's plate, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then stopped eating.
Mu Qing barely glanced up, long accustomed to such behavior.
"Senior Brother, are you full?" Lin Ran asked, leaning forward when he noticed Feng Qi had stopped eating.
"Overeating makes digestion difficult. This is enough."
Feng Qi suppressed a smile at the undisguised astonishment on Lin Ran's face. Compared to Mu Qing, his own appetite was truly modest.
"High mental exertion requires a massive nutritional intake. Makes sense," Lin Ran concluded, once again conjuring a plausible explanation for Feng Qi's voracious appetite.
Feng Qi: ...
Lin Ran's image as a devoted admirer solidified in Feng Qi's mind, making it impossible for him to compare Lin Ran to Old Wang of history class.
"Senior Sister, we're full. Let's have dinner together," Feng Qi said, lifting his tray to leave after finishing his meal.
Lin Ran stood up as well.
Hearing Feng Qi's words, Mu Qing didn't even look up, continuing to stuff food into her mouth. Her constantly moving cheeks made her look adorably dorky, but her expression remained icy, projecting a clear "outsiders keep away" vibe.
Yet Feng Qi believed this was merely a self-protective facade.
As they left the cafeteria and headed toward the library, Lin Ran couldn't resist asking, "Senior Brother, are you trying to win over that senior sister? She doesn't seem to like you much, does she?"
Feng Qi sighed inwardly at Lin Ran's nosiness.
He was only trying to befriend Mu Qing and extinguish her world-destroying impulses—nothing more.
After all, he had a grand dream of saving the world. How could he let romantic feelings hinder his progress?
Romance would only slow his sword-drawing speed.
(End of the Chapter)
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