Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

306: Section 306Xiao Mei’s sudden display of intimacy caused Yun Xiancheng to turn his gaze over, and the other Young ladies beside him also looked sideways, curiously sizing up this uninvited guest.

Liu Fei clearly hadn’t seen through the ”wicked little schemes” in Xiao Mei’s heart.

But faced with such an abrupt approach from a strange woman, her delicate brows furrowed slightly out of habit, and her body instinctively took half a step back to maintain a safe distance.

She wasn’t particularly interested in this overly enthusiastic girl in the blue dress; if the other party hadn’t actively approached her, she wouldn’t have even bothered to speak.

Because the moment her gaze swept over this group, her entire focus was firmly captured by an invisible, gentle vortex, locking onto the white-clad young man who stood like the moon surrounded by stars.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Liu Fei felt her heart skip a beat without warning, and then it began to throb like a drum. It took a full ten seconds before she suddenly snapped out of that breathtaking shock, realizing her loss of composure. ”Ahem...”

Liu Fei coughed twice, forcibly suppressing the uncontrollable heat rising in her cheeks and shaking that peerlessly handsome face from her mind.

She turned her gaze back to Xiao Mei, her tone returning to its usual steadiness. ”You all must be that rumored strongest freshman team. With such style, you indeed have the qualifications to say such things.”

She took a deep breath and continued, ”However, the strong ranking list is not a place just anyone can reach. Those listed on it are all top figures in our Inner Academy whose cultivation and combat power have reached the peak.”

As she spoke, Liu Fei instinctively extended an olive branch: ”Our Liu Gang is always thirsty for talent. If you don’t mind, you could consider joining us. The gang will provide you with ample Fire Energy and cultivation resources...” However, before her words could fully land, she saw Xiao Mei smile and shake her head with a hint of apology in her tone: ”I’m really sorry, Senior Liu Fei. We have already joined another gang—Moon Spirit, Senior Han Yue’s group.”

”Moon Spirit?”

Liu Fei was stunned upon hearing this. Deep within her lively eyes, a flash of undeniable disappointment flickered, and even her voice dropped a few notes.

”That... that really is a bit of a pity... However, Moon Spirit is also a good place. Leader Han’s character is virtuous and the gang’s environment is quiet and elegant; it is indeed quite good.”

Although she felt immense regret in her heart, her expression returned to its generous and composed state in a very short time.

She snapped her folding fan shut with a ’pa’ sound and gave everyone a sincere smile. ”But it doesn’t matter. Even if we aren’t in the same gang, we can still maintain a good cooperative relationship in the future.”

Oh my, this younger sister’s personality is really becoming more and more to my taste.

Xiao Mei watched Liu Fei’s measured words and actions with growing fondness. If she could persuade her to become a sister, chatting and shopping together daily would surely be very interesting.

At that moment, Yun Xiancheng stepped forward. His figure, as gentle as jade, instantly drew all of Liu Fei’s attention. He nodded slightly to Liu Fei, his clear voice like a spring breeze. ”Hello, Senior. My name is Yun Xiancheng.”

Then, he introduced the Young ladies beside him to Liu Fei one by one. ”I am Liu Fei. ’Liu’ as in green willows and red flowers, ’Fei’ as in humble palace and simple food.”

Liu Fei tried her best to make her voice sound calm as she cupped her hands and bowed to Yun Xiancheng, performing a standard aristocratic greeting.

”Greetings, Senior Liu Fei.” Yun Xiancheng’s return greeting was just like the man himself—gentle and elegant, carrying a perfect amount of respect. Just this simple greeting made Liu Fei feel her heart skip a beat and accelerate uncontrollably once more.

She even unconsciously puffed out her petite chest slightly, as if she wanted to appear more reliable in front of this perfect young man.

She lowered her voice, speaking with a touch of mystery, ”Mm-hmm. Weren’t you interested in the matter of the gambling matches earlier? Regarding that... please follow me.”

”This little girl looks quiet and refined, but I didn’t expect her to be someone in charge,” Xiao Xun’er chuckled, her beautiful eyes holding a hint of playful scrutiny.

Hearing Xiao Xun’er’s assessment of her, the corners of Liu Fei’s mouth involuntarily curled up into a subtle, slightly proud arc. I am not just a useless person who only causes trouble; I can also be a... very useful person.

She turned around, leading everyone deeper into the Arena while explaining in a slightly helpless tone:

”One always has to help out with the family. My elder sister is a martial fanatic; besides cultivation, she doesn’t care about anything. These mundane affairs naturally fall to me, the younger sister, to manage.”

The group followed her through the noisy spectator stands and quickly entered the internal area of the Arena. The atmosphere here was completely different from outside. The air was filled with a murky smell of sweat, tobacco, and cheap alcohol, thick with the scent of hormones.

Dozens of students were crowded in front of a giant light screen, their attention fixed entirely on the real-time broadcast of the Martial Stage outside.

Unlike those spectators who were purely there for the show, the eyes of these people, without exception, flickered with a nearly pathological, fanatical light belonging to ’gambling addicts’.

The place was a mixed bag of people. Students in various uniforms gathered in small groups, and from time to time, members wearing different gang emblems could be seen patrolling through the crowd.

It seemed this grey zone was maintained in a delicate balance by multiple factions.

Chapter 329: The Matter of Earning Fire Energy

Liu Fei led everyone with practiced ease into an inconspicuous-looking storage room.

After everyone entered, she closed the door behind her and tapped rhythmically on an unremarkable brick on the wall.

With a soft ’buzz’, a translucent energy screen instantly rose from all sides of the walls, enveloping the entire room.

This was a rather ingenious soundproofing and anti-detection array, ensuring that the information about earning Fire Energy would not leak out. ”If Miss Nalan Yanran is interested in participating in the Arena matches,”

Once she entered her own home turf, Liu Fei’s entire aura instantly became sharp and professional. ”I would be very happy to act as the bookie and set up specific gambling matches for you. However, if we do that, I’m afraid you won’t be able to enjoy the battles quite so freely.”

Her bright eyes were now incredibly serious as she gazed at Nalan Yanran, speaking frankly: ”For example, in certain specific matches, I might need you to intentionally lose. I wonder... what does Miss Yan Ran think?”

Although Nalan Yanran was not a battle-crazed maniac, as the former Young Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect, she had her own immovable pride and dignity.

Faced with this proposal filled with material temptation, she shook her head almost without hesitation, answering coldly and firmly: ”There’s no need. In every one of my battles, I will give my all.”

”I understand.” Hearing this, Liu Fei was not disappointed in the slightest; instead, she nodded in deep agreement, her beautiful eyes even showing a hint of admiration and respect.

”For the sake of the purity of competition, I completely understand your choice... My sister is also that kind of person.”

”In that case,” she changed the subject and immediately proposed a second plan, ”then Miss Yan Ran can consider the strategy of the weak defeating the strong.”

You are currently at the peak of the Great Dou Master rank. If you can challenge a Dou Ling Expert across ranks, then the odds we can offer will be very high.”

Her speaking speed was neither fast nor slow, her logic clear, and she was full of strong confidence and charisma. ”In the first few matches, as long as we operate correctly, we can make a huge profit!”

”As long as you can keep winning, I preliminarily estimate that the final profit will be at least several thousand Fire Energy. If luck is good, it might even exceed ten thousand! When that time comes, we split it fifty-fifty!”

She paused for a moment before adding, ”Of course, the opponents I arrange for you will continuously increase in strength. In the later stages, it’s even possible you’ll face long-famed Dou Ling Experts from the strong ranking list. Defeating the strong as the weak has its limits after all...”

”However, even if you can only win those first few matches, that’s still at least a net income of two to three thousand Fire Energy.”

This proposal was undoubtedly extremely tempting. It both respected Nalan Yanran’s dignity as a combatant and mapped out a clear, visible path for her to quickly accumulate wealth. For her, it had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

”This plan is good,”

Nalan Yanran was convinced almost immediately. She gave Liu Fei a bright smile filled with fighting spirit. ”I’ll do it! Miss Liu Fei, I’ll have to trouble you to research and arrange my match schedule.”

”That is only natural.” A similarly confident and shrewd smile appeared on Liu Fei’s face. ”Pleasure doing business with you.” Having settled the official business, the tense and serious commercial atmosphere in the room immediately softened.

Liu Fei clapped her hands, and soon, a young girl dressed in a maid’s outfit walked in carrying a tray of steaming fragrant tea.

”I’m truly sorry,” Liu Fei personally served the tea to everyone, her face carrying a hint of apology. ”As the host here, I was only focused on discussing business just now and neglected you all.”

This was my mistake.”

Yun Xiancheng sat calmly opposite her, took the teacup, took a shallow sip, and then said softly in a tone enough to melt ice and snow,

”I don’t blame Senior Sister Liu. Official business should be handled just like this, efficiently and without dragging things out.” The form of address ’Senior Sister Liu’ caused Liu Fei’s heart to tighten for no apparent reason.

Subconsciously and with a hint of dissatisfaction, she slightly puffed out her small, cherry-like lips, feeling that this address still sounded too formal and distant.

Gathering her courage, she raised her head to meet Yun Xiancheng’s eyes, which were as deep as the stars. In a tone that was almost like acting spoiled, she whispered, ”Classmate Cheng...”

”...In the future, just call me Liu Fei.”

With the official business concluded, what followed was naturally the private social time belonging to young people, filled with various possibilities.

Liu Fei held her teacup, taking small sips of the tea that should have been fragrant and mellow, but her gaze constantly drifted uncontrollably toward the young man in white, who was surrounded by several beauties.

For some reason, as the clear tea went down her throat, she tasted a faint, lingering bitterness akin to jealousy.

Hmph. I... I’m not envious of those girls being able to stay so close to him at all.

Hmph... but... but he did praise me just now for doing a good job... In his eyes, I must be a very capable and reliable girl... These thoughts, full of a young girl’s sentiment and shifting emotions, were not very obvious on her face.

But among those present, who wasn’t sharp? Almost all the women immediately and keenly captured the fleeting, complex emotions of a young girl within Liu Fei’s lively eyes.

”Husband, your sins are truly heavy indeed.” Xiao Xun’er held her teacup, covering half of her pretty face with a folding fan, while her smiling, beautiful eyes darted back and forth between Yun Xiancheng and Liu Fei.

Hearing this, Yun Xiancheng merely gave a non-committal smile.

Seeing Liu Fei’s appearance, the idea in Xiao Mei’s heart to ’invite the wolf into the house’ became increasingly intense.

She felt that as a qualified ’guide,’ it was time for her to take the initiative and create some opportunities for this seemingly pitiful, one-sidedly in love little sister.

Thus, she spoke up proactively in a warm and sincere tone, saying, ”Senior Sister Liu Fei—oh no, Liu Fei—I see that it’s getting late. Why don’t we all go have dinner together in a bit?”

”Have dinner together?” Hearing this, Liu Fei was completely stunned on the spot.

Since entering the Inner Academy, the day-after-day of hard cultivation and the various trivial matters of management had already occupied all of her time and energy. Something as ordinary as ’having a proper dinner,’ which was common for normal people, had long since become a distant luxury for her.

An unattainable luxury.

Having dinner together with Classmate Yun Xiancheng?

This thought was like a clap of thunder, exploding in her mind.

Immediately following, an uncontrollable surge of immense surprise and joy flooded her entire heart like a bursting dam! This suggestion was simply too wonderful!

Liu Fei subconsciously turned her gaze toward Xiao Mei, who was smiling brightly at her. Her beautiful eyes were filled with an unmistakable sense of gratitude.

She wasn’t some naive fool; she could naturally see that this girl named Xiao Mei was clearly giving her an assist!

However... their relationships seemed so close and harmonious, yet... they weren’t actually in boyfriend-girlfriend relationships? A small, secretly delighted doubt sprouted in Liu Fei’s heart.

She had originally thought that these stunning Young ladies surrounding Yun Xiancheng must have been in a massive, battle-royale-style relationship filled with overt and covert struggles.

She hadn’t expected that this girl named Xiao Mei would be so generous as to proactively help her, an ’outsider,’ create an opportunity.

At this time, Liu Fei naturally didn’t know the rules of Yun Xiancheng’s household. She simply assumed that the relationship between Yun Xiancheng and the girls was ordinary and not that of lovers.

330 This is a bit bad, how did I end up alone with him?

Liu Fei led the group through several quiet paths paved with bluestone. Finally, she stopped in front of an elegant courtyard.

The courtyard gate was made of dark wood, carved with exquisite wisteria patterns, showing care in every detail. She pushed open the gate, and a surge of spiritual energy, much more abundant than the outside world, greeted her, refreshing and pleasant.

The scenery inside the courtyard was tidy, with every plant and tree trimmed just right. However, the stone bench in the corner was covered with a thin layer of dust, and the air was permeated with a faint, long-standing silence of living alone.

The concentration of heaven and earth spiritual energy gathered in this residence far exceeded that of ordinary places.

While it could not compare to a miraculous cultivation site like the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower, it was sufficient to rival many blessed cultivation lands regarded as treasures within various sects.

”Your residence was actually arranged by First Elder Su Qian himself?”

When they chatted about it, Liu Fei’s voice unconsciously rose a few notches, her lively eyes filled with pure envy. ”The treatment for geniuses is indeed different.”

The corner of her lips twitched, her expression a mix of the sweetness and bitterness of memory. ”I remember when my sister and I first arrived, we really racked our brains just for a place to stay. Fortunately, my sister was strong enough and finally managed to lead me to take root here in the Inner Academy.”

”Even now, except for a very few special cases, residences in the Inner Academy require a monthly payment of Fire Energy. At my level, I don’t have to worry about rent anymore. But for most ordinary students, it’s still a significant burden. Once their Fire Energy is exhausted, they can only move to the crudest shanty towns.”

”It sounds like this Inner Academy is already an independent little world,” Yun Xiancheng said gently after listening.

His gaze fell upon Liu Fei, warm and clear, his words carrying sincere appreciation: ”To be able to keep everything in such good order in an environment like this...”

”...Liu Fei, you are quite remarkable.”

This direct and heartfelt praise was like a warm electric current, instantly striking Liu Fei’s heart.

The capable and steady demeanor she had worked so hard to maintain as the second-in-command of the ’Liu Gang’ immediately collapsed. She puffed out her small chest, her nose tilting up slightly, and let out two light, slightly proud hums.

”Hmph, of course! I’m very capable!”

To the side, Xiao Mei, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yan exchanged a knowing glance. Seeing Liu Fei’s girlish behavior, the smile on Xiao Mei’s lips became even sweeter.

Her intention to win over Liu Fei was almost written on her face. Xiao Yan observed quietly, but was secretly making comparisons in her heart.

Although Mei’er was clever, she had ultimately grown up under her husband’s protection, lacking the resilience and shrewdness that Liu Fei had forged by venturing out through the wind and rain alone.

Nalan Yanran, on the other hand, felt a hint of curiosity toward Liu Fei’s yet-to-be-met sister. A martial fanatic, a powerhouse who could establish a foothold in the Inner Academy on her own. Such an opponent made her quite intrigued.

Her thoughts drifted further. Since the younger sister of the Liu family was already in the bag, the elder sister—surely—would not escape her husband’s grasp. If she were stronger, perhaps she could compete with that martial fanatic. If she could win and bring her before her husband... but on second thought, to make such a proud figure completely submit, in the end, it would likely require her husband to step in personally. Yan Ran and Xiao Yan had different thoughts, but their faces remained calm.

Receiving the signal from Xiao Mei, the three of them smiled at each other and turned in unison with practiced coordination, heading toward the kitchen and leaving the unsuspecting man and woman in the living room.

”We’re going to prepare dinner, you two take your time chatting!” Xiao Mei’s light voice came from the direction of the kitchen, a playful smile hidden in her tone.

”Eh?” The three figures disappeared extremely quickly, and Liu Fei let out a short cry of surprise as she realized what was happening. She blinked, and when she looked again, only she and Yun Xiancheng remained in the spacious living room.

The surroundings instantly became quiet, so quiet that she could hear the rustle of the wind through the bamboo leaves outside the window, and... her own uncooperative, increasingly loud heartbeat. Heat spread from her neck all the way to her ears, and she felt as if her limbs were no longer under her control, stiffly unsure of where to put them.

She quietly looked up, stealing a quick glance at Yun Xiancheng. He sat calmly in the guest seat, his posture relaxed, studying a small porcelain vase on the table that held a single, half-bloomed white flower.

Yun Xiancheng looked away from the flower and turned toward her, his clear, gentle voice breaking the awkward silence. ”Did you plant this flower?”

”Ah? Oh—yes.” Liu Fei was like a startled small animal, jumping slightly as she quickly responded, ”It’s... it’s an Edelweiss. I just planted it casually.” Alone.

They were actually alone.

These words echoed repeatedly in her mind, unsettling her spirit.

She kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the ties of her cloak, her mind a complete blank. All the shrewd calculations and clever rhetoric she usually possessed had vanished without a trace.

”It’s very elegant,” Yun Xiancheng added, his gaze lingering briefly on her. ”It’s warm inside. Why don’t you take off that cloak first?”

Reminded by him, Liu Fei realized she was still wrapped in that thick fox fur cloak. The warmth of the room combined with her internal tension had indeed caused a thin layer of sweat to break out on her back.