CHAPTER 78: LADY KILLER

Lin Fan lay in a crater, twitching, covered in dirt and bruises.

Mu Qianxue stood over him, brushing dust off her robes.

"Lesson one: Strength isn’t just about power. It’s about control, discipline... and not throwing tantrums."

She turned around. "Clean yourself up. And next time—don’t miss training."

She walked back toward the others, who had watched the entire beatdown like it was a stage play.

Hei Long gave a single clap.

Lin Fan’s muffled voice came from the dirt.

"...I think I swallowed a worm..."

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Back on the Training Grounds –

The tension had mostly faded after Mu Qianxue’s flawless takedown of Lin Fan.

Most of the disciples were either stretching or meditating with their beasts nearby.

Hei Long sat on a tree stump beside his newly tamed beast, a sleek silver-furred wolf cub with deep violet eyes.

The little beast let out a soft yawn, curling beside Hei Long’s leg.

Mu Qianxue sipped a flask of wine from her gourd, sitting lazily atop a rock under the sun.

She was definitely not following proper teacher conduct, but no one questioned her anymore.

Bai Luoluo was wiping down her weapon, occasionally side-eyeing Hei Long when he wasn’t looking.

Her face would heat up whenever she remembered she blushed yesterday. She gritted her teeth every time the thought surfaced.

Just then—

Shuffle. Shuffle. Shuffle.

A limping, dirty Lin Fan dragged himself into view, holding his side with one hand and brushing off leaves with the other.

"...Master," he said stiffly, voice pinched.

"I’ve... come to apologize."

Everyone turned.

Mu Qianxue arched a brow. "Mm?"

"I... wasn’t thinking clearly earlier," Lin Fan continued.

"And... I disrespected you. So I’m here to say... sorry." His voice was the same tone someone used to not apologize.

Hei Long leaned toward Bai Luoluo and whispered, "That sounded more painful than his broken ribs."

Bai Luoluo snorted, not even trying to hide it.

Mu Qianxue exhaled.

"Good enough. But next time, say it like you mean it."

Lin Fan tried to smile. It came out like a wince.

Before anyone could follow up—

"Ahem."

A soft voice cut through the air.

Everyone turned toward the clearing’s edge where a figure stood, dressed in elegant snow-white robes embroidered with azure feathers.

Her blonde hair flowed behind her, and her gaze, though cold to others, softened slightly when it landed on Hei Long.

The Saintess.

Every disciple stiffened.

"...Saintess?" Mu Qianxue blinked.

"You’re not usually in this sector."

The Saintess, eyes still on Hei Long, gave a small nod of respect.

"I’ve been reassigned temporarily to your division. It’s an order from the Sect Master herself."

Hei Long smiled lightly. "What a coincidence."

Bai Luoluo crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly.

Mu Qianxue grinned.

"Well, well. This should be interesting..."

And then—

BOOM.

Lin Fan practically teleported to the Saintess, standing far too close, hand behind his head and grin stretched too wide.

"Saintess~! You’re joining us? What an honor! I’ll be your humble training partner anytime—day or night, heh."

She didn’t even glance at him.

Lin Fan coughed, then leaned in slightly.

"I have a spare beast. Maybe we could—"

She stepped past him without a word, moving toward Hei Long.

Lin Fan was frozen in place.

"...Wha—?"

The Saintess stood beside Hei Long and gave him a gentle nod. "I’ve been looking forward to training with you."

Lin Fan blinked like he’d been slapped by the heavens.

"Wait... why him!?"

Hei Long tilted his head.

"She said under your division, not under me. Don’t get too excited."

Mu Qianxue smirked, "Although if you were her master, I’d say she’s in good hands..."

The Saintess remained serene but added softly, "I simply respect competence."

Lin Fan staggered backward, devastated. "W-What about me...?"

The Saintess turned to him briefly. "Hm?"

"D-Do you... not respect me?"

There was a pause.

"...Who are you again?"

CRASH.

Lin Fan collapsed to his knees like he’d been spiritually backhanded. His chicken beast let out a loud BWAAAAK next to him, as if laughing.

Hei Long sighed and patted the Saintess’s shoulder.

"You’re going to give him a heart attack one day."

"I wouldn’t be responsible for that," she said, finally giving him a rare smile.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan curled up next to his chicken beast, muttering under his breath.

"I should’ve stayed punching trees..."

Getting right to training...

As some hours passed--

Mu Qianxue cracked her neck and stood up from her rock perch, brushing dust from her robes.

"Alright, that’s enough training for today. We’ll continue tomorrow morning. Get some rest, eat something, and for the love of the heavens—don’t punch any more trees unless you want arthritis at twenty."

Everyone chuckled—except Lin Fan, who pretended not to hear.

Hei Long stretched with a soft sigh, his eyed beast curling around his legs like a loyal pup.

"I say we all get something to eat," Mu Qianxue offered with a wink in Hei Long’s direction.

"I know a great place where they serve phoenix chicken legs, super spicy."

Lin Fan blinked. "P-Phoenix chicken legs? Wait—aren’t those endangered?"

"They’re fake phoenixes," Bai Luoluo said.

"It’s just chicken with a fancy name, idiot."

The Saintess stepped up beside Hei Long, completely ignoring Lin Fan’s presence.

"Would you mind if I joined you?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Hei Long replied, offering a casual smile.

"I’d be glad to have you."

Bai Luoluo suddenly stood straighter.

"Wait, if you’re going, then I’m going too. I... uh... don’t want to waste food. Yes. That’s it."

Lin Fan, hopeful, looked around.

"So... it’s a group dinner, huh? Great! Let’s go!"

Everyone started walking.

No one acknowledged him.

"Hey guys?" he asked again, jogging slightly to catch up.

"I’m coming too, right?"

Bai Luoluo gave him a once-over.

"You can come... just sit at the far end of the table. Away from me."

Mu Qianxue laughed, throwing an arm around Hei Long’s shoulder.

"Oh come on, don’t be mean. Let the poor pervert sit near someone. How about the waiter?"

"Pfft—" Bai Luoluo snorted.

Even the Saintess cracked a rare smile, hiding it behind her sleeve.

Lin Fan sulked as he walked behind them, grumbling.

"I’m not a pervert. I’m just... attentive."

Mu Qianxue glanced back.

"Attentive to every female’s chest, maybe."

Everyone burst out laughing—except Lin Fan.

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At the Restaurant

They arrived at a lively open-air tavern that catered to outer and inner disciples alike.

The moment Hei Long stepped in, murmurs filled the air.

"It’s the Saint!"

"He’s with the Saintess too?!"

"Who’s that guy trailing behind them...?"

"Looks like their weird servant."

Lin Fan twitched.

They found a large table, with Hei Long seated right in the middle, naturally.

Mu Qianxue sat to his right, Bai Luoluo to his left, and the Saintess quietly slid into the seat beside Bai Luoluo.

Lin Fan, tray in hand, was forced to circle the table twice before realizing—

"There’s no spot for me?"

"Uh, you can sit there," Hei Long said, pointing to a tiny side stool at the edge of the table, half-broken.

Lin Fan slowly lowered himself onto the creaky stool. The moment he sat—

CREAKKKK... SNAP!

CRASH!

Lin Fan fell flat on his back, tray flying up, soup pouring all over his shirt.

Everyone paused. And then—

HAH!

Mu Qianxue howled with laughter.

Bai Luoluo covered her mouth. "I—I can’t—"

The Saintess actually chuckled out loud.

"Perhaps the heavens are sending you a message."

Lin Fan sat in a puddle of soup, face blank.

His chicken beast, who had followed him all the way here, jumped up on the broken stool and squawked loudly, as if mocking him.

Hei Long leaned back, completely relaxed.

"You okay down there, Lin Fan?"

"Peachy," Lin Fan grunted, wiping soup off his face with a piece of lettuce.

Mu Qianxue passed Hei Long a drink.

"You know, I think this is the first time I’ve seen every woman at a table ignore one man and worship another. You’re quite the lady killer, Hei Long."

"Careful," Bai Luoluo muttered under her breath, blushing faintly.

"He doesn’t need a bigger ego."

"I’m merely popular," Hei Long said with a small grin.

Lin Fan pouted in silence, his face in his soup bowl as the others toasted without him.

He raised his head once more and whispered, "I should’ve really stayed punching trees..."

His chicken hopped on the table and pecked his head.