As the Sanshan City contingent departed, Lin Zhengren remained silent, though his younger brother, Lin Zhengli, seethed with indignation. “These barbarians are utterly boorish!” he spat.

Lin Zhengren led the Wangjiang City group, while Lin Zhengli was set to represent the first-year disciples of the Wangjiang City Daoist Academy in the upcoming competition.

Lin Zhengren offered a faint smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his brother’s sentiment.

The cultivators from Wangjiang City, adorned with pearls and jade, hailed from families of wealth and standing, their extravagance a deeply ingrained habit. Even within the borders of Maple Leaf City, they spoke their minds without reservation, ready to scold anyone who crossed them.

“When the time comes for the discussions, we must teach them a lesson!”

“The people of Maple Leaf City are no better. I mentioned wanting to visit the Fragrant Building for a bit, and they completely ignored me! So stingy!”

“Haha, they’re simply impoverished. Look at the courtyard they’ve arranged for us – is that a place fit for people to live? There’s not even a heated floor, and the quilts are just common silk cotton!”

“Alas, what can one expect from these poor, fallen households? I’ve already instructed my servants to make arrangements. We’ll just have to make do for these two days.”

Amidst the chorus of complaints, a voice suddenly interjected, “Where is Fu Baosong? Hasn’t he shown up again?”

“Why concern yourself with him!” Lin Zhengli sneered. “I can’t fathom how the Dean allowed him in; he’s such a sour, disagreeable fellow.”

Lin Zhengren gently set his wine glass down, and Lin Zhengli immediately fell silent.

Lin Zhengren raised his chopsticks. “Serve the dishes.”

The atmosphere instantly lightened, and lively chatter resumed.

…

Under Jiang Wang’s watchful eye, Jiang An’an returned the treasure chest acquired from her classmates, vowing to refrain from assisting them in exam cheating and to dedicate herself to diligent study. She promised to approach future examinations with integrity, aiming for both merit and distinction to bring honor to the venerable Jiang family.

Her condition was a supplementary portion of Gui Xiang Zhai pastries after each evening meal.

Truly, she had no fear of cavities!

While Ling He and the others were hosting the guests from Sanshan City, who had journeyed far, Jiang Wang completed his day’s cultivation and made his way to Mingde Hall to collect his sister from school.

He had to admit, with the aid of the Control Yuan Jue, his ability to command Taoist Yuan had improved at a remarkable pace. The most tangible evidence was his newfound ease in accurately listing array points, a task he hadn’t fumbled in quite some time.

Coupled with the physical strengthening provided by the Four Spirits Refining Body Jue, his capacity for cultivating his meridians had significantly increased. Had he not been diligently tempering his body’s potential, he might well have already laid the foundation for his cultivation. Even so, he was not far from this crucial step.

Having collected Jiang An’an, he was about to head off for a satisfying meal when a girl with a head full of braids bounced in front of him.

Pointing a finger directly at Jiang Wang, she spoke with unrestrained rudeness. “It was you who wouldn’t let An’an play with me?”

Jiang Wang recognized her as the impudent little girl he had encountered at the old gentleman’s place in Mingde Hall that day, a child clearly accustomed to being spoiled.

The mere sight of the small pearls, jade beads, and emeralds adorning her braids was enough to attest to her family’s wealth.

Jiang Wang saw no point in arguing with a child. “Little friend, I simply asked An’an not to cheat with you. I did not forbid her from playing with you.”

The braided little girl sniffed. “Then why did you give me back all those treasures? They were all tokens of our friendship!”

“Friendship cannot be measured in wealth,” Jiang Wang said, his patience for other people’s children wearing thin. He offered a brief, casual instruction. “Alright, An’an and I are going home now.”

“No! You can’t leave until you’ve made yourself clear!” The braided little girl spread her hands, blocking their path.

Jiang Wang felt a flicker of helplessness and decided to deploy a decisive tactic. “I will inform your teacher.”

“Do you dare?” The braided little girl puffed out her cheeks and rolled up her sleeves. “Do you believe I’ll beat you?”

Before Jiang Wang could respond, Jiang An’an spoke up. “Qingzhi, if you hit my brother, I truly won’t play with you anymore!”

“Oh, no. Then I won’t hit him,” the little girl named Qingzhi immediately rolled her sleeves back down.

Jiang Wang, listening from the side, was speechless. Could you even manage to hit me, little girl?

“Let me say it again, little friend. As long as you don’t engage in mischievous deeds together, such as cheating or skipping school, I have no objection to An’an playing with you. Do you understand? If you understand, then wait here for your family to fetch you. An’an and I are going to have some water-boiled meatball soup now!”

Jiang An’an initially wanted to exchange a few more words with her good friend, but upon hearing about the soup, her interest waned instantly. She waved her hands repeatedly. “Qingzhi, goodbye! See you tomorrow!”

The braided little girl waved back and stepped aside. Jiang Wang scooped up Jiang An’an and strode away.

Watching Jiang Wang’s retreating back, she huffed again, muttering, “What’s so special about him.”

…

The cultivators from Sanshan City finally arrived at the small courtyard prepared for them by the Maple Leaf City Daoist Academy.

As soon as the door closed, the black-clothed man, whom the people of Maple Leaf City considered a hidden demon king, collapsed to the ground, his voice thick with despair. “Can we disperse now? We’re already in Maple Leaf City, where else could I possibly go?”

He had attempted hundreds of stratagems along the way to escape back to Sanshan City, but each time he was apprehended and brought back. Finally, as they approached Maple Leaf City, they had even surrounded him upon entering the city.

The Sanshan City cultivators all looked somewhat sheepish upon hearing this, each averting their gaze, looking at the sky, the ground, and two of them even intently studying each other’s fingers. Not a single one made a move.

The true demon king bounded and leapt into the building, traversing six rooms before bouncing back into the courtyard. He pointed towards the room on the west side. A silver chain adorned each of his wrists, a silver hammer dangling at the end of each, swaying with his movements.

“Alright, you can choose your rooms! That room is mine.”

Then everyone scattered in a flurry.

“Sun Xiaopang!” Sun Xiaoman stopped Sun Xiaoyan, who had just risen. “You’ll live in the room next to mine!”

“I don’t want to!” Sun Xiaoyan roared, but upon meeting Sun Xiaoman’s gaze, his voice immediately softened. “Can’t I?”

“You can’t, oh.” Sun Xiaoman blinked.

She possessed a pair of large, bright eyes, and when she blinked, it was like moonlight reflected in a stream.

But Sun Xiaoyan simply felt a shiver run down his spine.

Sun Xiaoman walked forward with her hands behind her back, the pair of silver hammer ornaments swaying back and forth, occasionally tapping and producing a crisp sound. “Little Fatty, come over here~”

Sun Xiaoyan reluctantly followed her, trudging into the room, and mumbled aggrievedly, “Can you please not call me Sun Xiaopang? I have a proper name!”

“Alright, Sun Xiaopang.” Sun Xiaoman turned around and waved dismissively. “Come, sit here.”

Sun Xiaoyan obediently sat down, the accumulated fat overflowing the armchair.

Sun Xiaoman reached out and took off his hood, revealing his chubby face.

“Oh, this is swollen,” When Sun Xiaoman wasn’t being fierce, her voice was surprisingly soft and sweet.

Oh heavens, I’m being cared for. Sun Xiaoyan felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart.

But he immediately snapped back to reality, *Pah!*

He spat vehemently in his mind.

Sun Xiaoman produced a small jade bottle, removed the stopper, and a wisp of fragrance escaped.

Using the nail of her little finger, she scooped out a small amount of translucent ointment and gently pressed it onto Sun Xiaoyan’s face, slowly spreading it with her fingertips.

Sun Xiaoyan dared not resist, accepting it without moving. It felt cool at first, then comfortable. The places that had hurt seemed to find instant relief.

“Alright!” After applying the medicine, Sun Xiaoman patted Sun Xiaoyan’s large face. “Apply it for a night, and the swelling will be gone tomorrow.”

Sun Xiaoyan almost instinctively wanted to utter a word of thanks, but he swallowed it back.

Sun Xiaoman put away the small jade bottle and smiled. “Remember not to be so impulsive in the future. Getting disfigured is so unsightly; it’s an embarrassment to the face of Sanshan City.”

*Who hit me?!*

Sun Xiaoyan was filled with silent anguish, but he squeezed out a smile on his face and said obediently, “Alright, Jie Jie.”