Author note: Sorry for the short chapter last time, my friends. This is a longer chapter. I hope you like it.
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Yi Feng followed Mei as they walked toward Princess Rou's residence. From time to time, Mei stole glances at him, and each time she saw his handsome face, her cheeks flushed and her heart raced.
'He's so handsome… but we come from different worlds. We can never be together,' she thought with a quiet sigh.
'Enough dreaming, Mei. Wake up to reality,' she scolded herself, her heart heavy with sadness.
Yi Feng watched Mei with an amused smile.
'This maid is really cute when she makes those expressions with her doll-like face,'he thought.
He couldn't help chuckling whenever she secretly glanced at him, her reactions entertaining him.
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After fifteen minutes of walking, Mei and Yi Feng stood before an opulent residence that radiated wealth and status. It was much larger than Yi Feng's dwelling, and the sight briefly stunned him.
'She's a princess of the Hidden Dragon Kingdom, so this makes sense… Still, concealing her identity so well in the academy? I need to be careful. My instincts warn me that she's anything but simple.'
Mei knocked on Rou's resident door and announced loudly, "Young Master, Ye has arrived."
Moments later, the door creaked open. The twin maids, Ya and Xiu, appeared and cupped their fists toward Ye Feng.
"Welcome, Young Master Ye. Please follow us to the lounge. Princess Rou will be with you shortly."
Yi Feng nodded in response and followed them into the lounge. Mei closed the door before trailing behind him.
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In the lounge
Yi Feng sat in the lounge, sipping wine as Mei, Ya, and Xiu served him various delicacies.
Twenty minutes later, Rou entered the lounge accompanied by her two maids.
When Ye Feng looked at Rou, his eyes filled with appreciation. She was dressed in a luxurious pink gown adorned with golden lines along its sides. Her hair was neatly tied in a bun, secured by a golden pin, while a thin silk veil covered the lower half of her face.
Walking elegantly, she settled into the seat opposite Ye Feng and smiled warmly. "Thank you for coming, Young Master Ye. I trust you found my hospitality satisfactory."
Ye Feng gave Rou a charming smile, making her blush instantly.
"Thank you, Princess Rou, for your hospitality. I truly enjoyed myself."
Rou smiled in satisfaction at his words, but her eyebrow lifted in surprise when he continued,
"The reason I accepted your invitation is that I was curious about something. To satisfy that curiosity, I had no choice but to come."
Rou smiled, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Has your curiosity been satisfied, Young Master Ye?"
Ye Feng shook his head sharply. "Sadly, the only way my curiosity could be satisfied," he said, "is if you answered my question honestly—without trying to avoid it, Princess Rou."
For a fleeting second, Rou's gaze sharpened. 'He is good. I thought he only excelled in cultivation. I underestimated him a lot. I didn't think he was this intelligent to trap me like that. I shouldn't have been overconfident in my intelligence.'
Rou took a quick glance at him and saw that he was looking at her like a hawk. ' Trying to deceive him now will be the wrong move. I don't have a choice but to answer his question honestly.".
Rou allowed herself a faint smile. "Go ahead, Young Master Ye. I'll do my best to satisfy your curiosity."
Ye Feng smiled back, a spark of interest in his gaze. "Tell me, what is your connection to the Zhang clan's followers, and what compels you to meddle in their affairs?"
Rou sighed, her thoughts heavy. 'I have no choice but to tell him the truth.' She met Ye Feng's gaze with a steady intensity, then turned toward her maids. "Leave us," she commanded. The maids bowed, their hands cupped in respect, and quietly exited the lounge, leaving the two of them alone.
Rou began detailing the ongoing skirmishes between the Hidden Dragon Kingdom and both the Persian and Andreas Kingdoms, then touched on how the Zhang family maintains connections with the royal family of Andreas and Persia Kingdoms.
Rou also explained that they couldn't confront the Zhang family openly at the moment for three reasons. First, the Hidden Dragon army still relied on the Zhang family's alchemy skills to grow stronger. Second, the Zhang family was one of the noble clans of the Hidden Dragon Kingdom, meaning any action against them would require concrete evidence. And finally, their influence rivaled even that of the royal family. For now, the only option was to gradually chip away at their power.
After Rou explained the situation to Ye Feng, he looked stunned at what he heard. Rou's expression turned serious as he continued, "After what you did to Zhang Bo and Zhang Wei in the Dragon Forest, you unknowingly helped us cut the Zhang family influence in the academy."
Ye Feng's eyes widened in sudden realization. "The expulsion of the Zhang clan followers from the academy," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. Rou gave him a charming smile and inclined her head. "Instructor Zhao is loyal to the royal family—you must have met him." Surprised, Ye Feng remained silent, letting her words sink in as he continued to listen.
"Given what you did to Zhang Bo and Zhang Wei in the Dragon Forest, I was certain the Zhang family would spare no effort to eliminate you, so I instructed Instructor Zhao to step in whenever necessary."
A shadow passed over Ye Feng's face. "She used me… as a pawn? How dare she?"
Rou's tone was cold. "I invited you to discuss an alliance. Together, we will wipe the Zhang family influence from this academy."
Ye Feng let out a cold chuckle that caught Rou off guard. Rising to his feet, he began to walk away, his voice icy and firm: "I refuse, princess. Enjoy your day. I'll see myself out."
Rou froze, disbelief washing over her. After all he had suffered at the hands of the Zhang family, she had been certain he would join her in taking them down—but she had been wrong.
Rou's voice trembled with urgency as she asked the question she'd longed to hear answered: "Why? After all you and your eldest brother endured at the hands of the Zhang family, don't you hate them?"
Ye Feng spun around, his gaze locking onto her. His eyes were like twin blades, slicing through the air—and through her very soul. A chill ran down her spine at the sheer weight of his stare.
Ye Feng spoke coldly to Rou, his words sharp as ice. "Listen carefully, princess, because I will not repeat myself. I despise scheming women like you—those who manipulate others as pawns to achieve their goals."
Rou trembled under his piercing gaze, fear coursing through her. "The one who harmed my brother… has already faced justice at my hands. I have avenged him."
Rou swallowed hard, her throat tight with fear as Ye Feng's words cut through the tense air. "I don't care who rules the Hidden Dragon Kingdom, or the struggle between the Zhang family and the royal family," he said, his voice steady but cold.
Rou opened her mouth, but no words came. Ye Feng's gaze remained unwavering as he added, "As long as my clan is safe… and the people I care about are safe, that's all that matters to me."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and started walking. Then, without looking back, he spoke again, each word deliberate and final: "I would say it was a pleasure meeting you again… but that would be a lie. I hope we never meet again, princess."
She suppressed the fury rising in her chest, clenching her hand. Her voice, sharp and cold, cut the tension: "how about we make a deal?"
Ye Feng stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he turned to Rou. "A deal?"
Rou nodded, her gaze cold and unwavering. "Yes," she said. "I know you're no different from the other cultivators—greedy, craving resources to strengthen your cultivation. I have a plan to eliminate the Zhang followers in the academy. But for it to succeed, you must play your role flawlessly. Do this, and I will reward you."
Ye Feng's lips curved into a confident smirk. "I'll only lend you a hand if my rewards are given in advance: 10 bottles each of Soul Nourishment Pills, Pure Cleansing Pills, and Saint Concentrating Pills. Other than that… consider my help off the table."
Rou gritted her jade-like teeth and clenched her fists at his words. After a moment of steeling herself, she made a decision. "Fine. Tomorrow, I'll send one of my maids to deliver your rewards in advance, along with detailed instructions you must follow."
Ye Feng smiled, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, and turned to leave Rou's dwelling.
After Ye Feng left, Rou cursed laudly "Curse you, Ye Feng.".
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When Ye Feng was meeting with Rou.
On the southern side of Azure Dragon Academy, a grand and luxurious dwelling loomed quietly. Inside its spacious lounge, thirty middle-aged academy staff members were gathered, filling the room with a cheerful atmosphere.
Many young women were totally naked and serving the 30 academy staff wine and delicacies.
The academy staff squeeze the young women's plump and round breasts. pinch their rosy nipples, and slapped their round buttocks.
Some academy staff were kissing their cherry-like lips, grabbing their waists, and running their hands all over the young women's bodies.
Some were even rubbing the young women's private parts with their fingers and sucking on their nipples.
The moans of the young women were heard loudly as the academy staff were enjoying their time with these young women.
All of a sudden, the door to the inner quarters flew open, and three dignified, handsome middle-aged men stepped into the lounge.
The three men were clad in flowing azure robes, marking them as staff members of the Azure Dragon Academy.
One of them had long silver hair pulled into a tight ponytail, sharp black eyes set in a pale face, and a tall, lean, muscular body. Every inch of him exuded pride and arrogance, as if he looked down on everyone around him.
His true name was Zhang Bowen, he is Zhang Bo and Zhang Wei cousin. To ensure his successful infiltration of Azure Dragon Academy, the Zhang family erased his identity and gave him a new one. Under the name Song Chao, he secretly built connections with spies from the Persian Kingdom and the Andreas Kingdom.
His mission was simple: assist the spies at all costs.
In the entire academy, only two people knew who he really was.
Standing beside Bowen was a tall, middle-aged man with long purple hair and piercing purple eyes. He shared Bowen's slim physique and fair complexion, giving them an almost familial resemblance. His name was Zimo.
Zimo's refined features reflected his sharp intelligence, and behind his calm exterior lay a dangerous secret—he was a spy sent by the Andreas Kingdom to infiltrate the Azure Dragon Academy and gather information on the Hidden Dragon Kingdom's rising talents.
To Bowen's left stood a burly, middle-aged man with sun-darkened skin, short black hair, and a long moustache. His rugged face was twisted into a ferocious expression, and his eyes burned with savage intensity.
His name was Tao—a spy dispatched by the Persian Kingdom to secretly investigate the Hidden Dragon Kingdom's promising young talents
With the two spies at his side, Bowen entered the lounge, his lips curled in an arrogant smirk as the academy staff and the naked woman halted what they were doing when they saw him.
He looked sharply at the academy staff and asked, "Now tell me, I hope you finish off Ye Feng by now?"
"The Zhang family head keeps demanding his head. If we fail to deliver it, he'll cut off our pill supply."
All the academy staff quickly averted their gazes, not daring to meet his eyes. The two spies exchanged a sharp glance, their eyes narrowing as they observed the fearful reactions of the staff.
Bowen's face twisted with anger. "You imbeciles! Is it really that hard to finish off a Saint Realm junior? Hah!"
One of the academy staff stepped forward cautiously. "Brother Chao, calm yourself. The problem isn't us—it's Instructor Zhao. He and his friends always appear the moment we're about to land the final strike. Then we're forced to fight not just him, but also his friends."
The one who spoke is Hong, he had long, spiky blond hair that framed his face and striking blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the ordinary. His fair skin made the color of his eyes even more vivid. His build was slim, almost forgettable, and there was nothing notably handsome about him—he could easily be mistaken for just another face in a crowd.
Hong continued, "The headmaster always shows up right when our men are clashing with Zhao and his allies. The chaos from their fights draws him in every time. Once he arrives, he destroys some of our men's Saint Weapons and expels everyone involved in the skirmish."
The two spies narrowed their eyes at Hong's words, exchanging uneasy glances. Bowen's anger flared once more. Then, his gaze swept over the academy staff assembled before him. "You idiots!" he barked. "Think before you strike! Ye Feng must have friends in the academy. Bribe them with monster cores. Use them to lure him to a secluded training ground—somewhere far from the Azure Dragon Eye Tower!"
All the academy staff froze, their eyes widening at Bowen's words. He let out a heavy sigh, then fixed a serious gaze on them.
"The Zhang family bounty for Ye Feng's head has tripled," he announced.
A stunned silence fell over the room. Bowen didn't let it linger for long. "I don't want us to waste any more time on a mere Saint Realm junior. You will all attack him at once." He paused, letting the weight of his command sink in. "The one who kills Ye Feng won't just claim the Zhang family's reward… I'll also give them three of my personal toys of their choosing for an entire month."
He pointed deliberately at the naked young women standing obediently beside the academy staff, and a ripple of tension passed through the room.
All the academy staff who heard this looked at the naked women; their eyes shone with desire, and they gave a lustful grin.
They nodded curtly to Bowen. Bowen waved his hand lazily. "You may all leave. I want Ye Feng dead—no excuses, no delays." The group nodded in unison and departed silently, leaving Bowen alone in the dimly lit room.
When the door closed behind them, Zimo faced Bowen with a sharp seriousness. "We need to talk. Send those whores away."
Bowen waved his hand dismissively, and the young women quickly exited the lounge.
After the young women left the lounge, Zimo turned to Bowen with a grave expression. "Listen carefully, Bowen," he said. "Our plans have been delayed—thanks to the mess your cousins created. We can't afford any more delays, or Tao and I risk being exposed as spies."
When Tao heard this he got serious he narrowed his eyes too along with Bowen who asked Zimo "what do you suggest we do?"
Zimo let out a frustrated sigh. "I would have loved it if we'd won Ye Feng over, but your cousins ruined everything for us."
Bowen's jaw tightened, his fist curling instinctively. The memory of what happened in the Dragon Forest—and how his cousins had gotten them into this mess—gnawed at him.
Zimo's voice hardened, each word dripping with resolve. "The only option left is to kill him—immediately. This time, failure is not an option. You've seen his talent firsthand—in the Azure Dragon Pagoda, the Dragon Forest, the Fighting Arena. If someone like him is allowed to grow, to mature… he will become our worst nightmare when we invade the Hidden Dragon Kingdom."
Both Tao and Bowen narrowed their eyes, a shadow of unease passing over them at the thought of Ye Feng reaching his full potential. After a moment of contemplation, Bowen made his decision. "Fine," he said, his voice steady, "I'll join the others when they move to assassinate Ye Feng."
Zimo nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "A wise choice. But be careful of Instructor Zhao—he's been keeping an eye onTao and me more closely than ever lately."
Bowen narrowed his eyes. 'If they discover these spies hail from the Andreas and Persian Kingdoms, the Zhang family could be in serious trouble.'
With a measured calm, Bowen got to his feet. "I leave now to ready myself for Ye Feng's assassination. See you both soon."
Both Zimo and Tao nodded and left once Zhang Bowen had gone.
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