LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 13: Pole Ready to Face Enemies
As Feng Fan followed Huang Xue, he couldn't help but notice the way other disciples reacted to her presence. Their eyes were filled with admiration, though their steps hesitated as they passed her.
"She's stunning, but those cold glares of hers could freeze a fire," he overheard one disciple whispering nervously.
Feng Fan smirked inwardly. 'Indeed, beautiful people are always admired no matter where you are.'
Before long, they arrived at Huang Xue's residence. Unlike his shared accommodations, her house was a single-room dwelling she had entirely to herself.
Situated near the main hall, its location immediately caught Feng Fan's attention—not because of the room itself, but because the one next to it belonged to none other than Xua Qiang.
A shiver ran down his spine as he imagined the chaos that would ensue if Xua Qiang happened to catch him entering Huang Xue's quarters. 'Oh, heavens above, don't let her see me.' he silently begged, glancing around nervously.
Huang Xue pushed the door open and gestured for Feng Fan to follow, her icy demeanor unchanged. "Come in."
'An Azure Dragon should represent the wood element, yet this girl exudes an aura as cold as ice.' Feng Fan mused.
As he stepped inside, Feng Fan froze in place, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. 'This... is ridiculous! The disparity in treatment is outrageous!' he thought, taking in the room—or rather, the extravagant private courtyard disguised as a room.
Before him lay a tranquil paradise. A small waterfall cascaded gracefully into an artificial lake, the water shimmering with a faint blue hue.
Feng Fan couldn't sense spiritual qi yet, but if he were to guess, he'd bet the water was brimming with it!
The lake was spacious enough for five people to bathe comfortably.
The room's centerpiece was an enormous bed, its size rivaling a king-size bed from Earth, covered in lush silken sheets embroidered with floral patterns.
Around the room, intricately carved furniture added a sense of sophistication—ornate chairs, a desk, and a low table surrounded.
Though the room lacked windows, the artificial lighting and exquisite ornaments made up for it. White crows adorned nearly every corner: paintings, sculptures, and even the embroidery on the curtains.
It was as if the sect wanted to imprint their name deeply in her subconscious.
Huang Xue closed the door behind them and turned to Feng Fan, her gaze still carrying that frosty edge. "The small lake is where the spiritual qi is most concentrated in this room. My master told me to immerse myself in it every time I cultivate—it significantly enhances the process. You can use it too; it might help you sense qi faster."
Feng Fan nodded thoughtfully. 'Even a fool could tell that lake is special,' he mused before remembering his other pressing question. 'I should also find out more about her cultivation technique while I'm here.'
"Huang Xue," he began, his tone measured, "I wanted to ask you something about your cultivation. Have you already been able to sense qi?"
She nodded without hesitation. "Yes, just a few hours ago. I've already reached the Qi Gathering First Stage."
Feng Fan's eyes widened in astonishment. 'She's already stepped onto the immortal path!'
"How did you manage to sense qi?" Feng Fan asked. "I picked up a cultivation manual from the library, but I haven't been able to sense anything yet."
Huang Xue tilted her head slightly, her tone still even as she explained. "My master taught me a Qi Cultivation art called Endless Heavenly Wood. The initial step is to sit still and focus on feeling the qi with your skin and senses."
"With your skin and senses? Not through breathing techniques like inhaling and exhaling?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.
Huang Xue nodded. "Yes. My master said most arts, if not all, begin with sensing qi this way. The only exception she mentioned was a manual called Basic Qi Cultivation Arts. According to her, it's practically a joke, an art likely created by someone with too much free time. She said no one has ever successfully cultivated with it."
'Well, that was precisely this art's description,' he thought.
"She even joked that even if someone somehow managed to sense qi using that method, they would still hit a dead end. The art instructs practitioners to guide qi through meridians that are completely messed up! Some of them don't exist, others are in different positions. Anyone trying it would only end up damaging themselves."
Feng Fan maintained a neutral expression as he processed her words. 'So that's why this manual is considered trash... but if I stick to a conventional manual, my trash talent will probably keep me stuck forever.'
While Feng Fan was momentarily lost in thought, Huang Xue suddenly took his hand and gently pulled him toward the lake. "Come on, let's practice," she said, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
'Physical contact helps strengthen friendships, right? That's what Song Shu said... but was this too sudden?' she wondered, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty.
Feng Fan tilted his head slightly, a mix of confusion and amusement crossing his face. 'What exactly is this Song Shu teaching this innocent girl? Is she running a crash course on awkward social interactions?' he mused.
Feng Fan didn't resist and allowed himself to be pulled by Huang Xue. He was eager to try cultivating again in a place so rich with spiritual qi.
As they both entered the lake and sat cross-legged, the water soaked their clothes. Feng Fan couldn't help but notice how Huang Xue's wet garments clung to her figure, accentuating her curves.
His gaze inadvertently fell on her prominent cleavage, and he soon got ready to battle, his pole hardened to face his enemies.
'Damnit,' he thought, trying to focus, 'How am I supposed to practice like this? This is way too distracting!'
Huang Xue noticed Feng Fan's intense gaze and instinctively looked down at herself. Realizing the issue, her cheeks turned as red as a tomato.
'Ah, I forgot about this... Should I ask him to stop staring? It's making me a little uncomfortable,' she thought.
Before she could speak, Feng Fan, having heard her thoughts, quickly averted his gaze and bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Huang Xue. I saw something I shouldn't have and got mesmerized by accident."
Her blush deepened as her heart raced. 'H-He got mesmerized? Did he really like the view that much?' she thought, her embarrassment growing.
Feng Fan, meanwhile, sighed internally. 'Damnit, what's going on inside this girl's mind? Can't she just accept the apology and move on?'
Huang Xue cleared her throat awkwardly and waved her hand. "I-It's all right. Song Shu told me that boys your age are... like this. Let's forget it and focus on practice."
Feng Fan nodded, relieved. "Yes, let's focus."
'Finally,' he thought, shifting his attention entirely to cultivation. 'I need to stop letting distractions get to me.' Meanwhile, Huang Xue sat across from him, still blushing, trying to concentrate while sneaking occasional glances his way.
Feng Fan closed his eyes and soon slipped into the same state of focus he had achieved in his room.
The external world faded into a blur, and all that remained was the rhythm of his breath, steady and controlled. His mind, once chaotic, now settled into a calm void.
Huang Xue, watching him, couldn't help but be surprised. "How can he concentrate so quickly?" she muttered under her breath. "Is this the 'Return to Emptiness' my master spoke of? A state so rare that few could attain it, and even then, only for fleeting moments?"
Despite her own impressive talent for cultivation, it took her at least half an hour to calm her thoughts, and even then, she struggled to maintain the kind of focus Feng Fan seemed to possess effortlessly.
"Feng Fan?" she called softly, her voice tinged with wonder. "It's as if he's fallen asleep, but I can still sense he's awake. It's incredible." Her words were filled with admiration as she watched him, completely absorbed in his practice.
'Is this really someone with a terrible talent for cultivation? How does this make sense?' She thought.