The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 11

Fei Wanghuai raised his eyebrows. “You think I’m sick?”

“Don’t panic, it’s normal to be sick. Look, I have Soul Separation Syndrome too. As long as you don’t shy away from treatment, everything can be discussed.” Chu Zaishuang comforted him. “If you need, I can talk to my parents and have the Medicine Elder take a look at you, or any other Elder will do.”

“You want the truth, but when I tell you, you don’t believe it.” He curled his lips, unsure if it was a cold smile or mockery.

Chu Zaishuang felt it was absurd. “I want the truth, but not nonsense!”

“Can’t nonsense be the truth?”

She shook her head repeatedly. “Unbelievable, we’re actually fellow patients. I thought you just had poor taste, but it turns out you have other issues too.”

“…”

Fei Wanghuai glanced at the chessboard, taking in all the moves, and said slowly, “You have quite a talent for chess, which proves you’re not dull. Why do you think I’m speaking nonsense?”

Of course, the future provided by Soul Transmission Dream could indeed be considered nonsense.

“Chess is chess, cultivation is cultivation, they’re two different things.” Chu Zaishuang retorted. “I’ve told you, I’m really useless!”

“Then prove it to me.”

“How do I prove it?” She was stunned. “Isn’t it obvious?”

With a swish, Fei Wanghuai unfolded his Silver Fan and shook it casually, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “Didn’t you learn the Rippling Water Technique yesterday? Condense your Primordial Spirit Flower now and let me see your level.”

During class, he had patiently taught Chu Zaishuang, not to help her cultivate, but to probe her capabilities. As long as he knew her Primordial Spirit Flower, he might deduce her Flower Realm and prepare countermeasures in future confrontations.

Chu Zaishuang was momentarily confused but admitted honestly, “I don’t have a Primordial Spirit Flower.”

“How is that possible?” Fei Wanghuai frowned.

“I really don’t have a Primordial Spirit Flower. Normally, at Three Leaves, the heart should bloom, but I fell seriously ill at that time. After contracting Soul Separation Syndrome, my heart failed to bloom, and to this day, I haven’t produced a Primordial Spirit Flower.” She spread her hands. “I can only gather Qi, but can’t condense essence. My Dao heart is unstable.”

Therefore, Chu Bingxiao and the others never forced her to cultivate. Mainly, she lacked a Dao heart, so no one could continue teaching her. Cultivation is like building a tower-without a solid foundation, it’s just a castle in the air, with no way to construct it.

Fei Wanghuai lightly shook his Silver Fan. Seeing her sincere expression, he said in a low voice, “Come with me.”

By the pond, the wild grass at their feet was bent by raindrops. On the water ahead, grass leaves and lotus flowers floated, and occasionally, small insects skipped across the surface, sending ripples outward in layers.

The sky was clear now, and the pond was like a bright mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds above. Fei Wanghuai approached the pond, pointing the tip of his fan at the water. “All things flourish in spring, each finds its place; myriad phenomena are empty, one spirit alone appears.”

Suddenly, countless droplets gathered below, and a pure white Rosa Multiflora bloomed, suspended in midair. The petals were intricate, like snow on branches, clusters of crystal and freshness.

Chu Zaishuang watched his actions, guessed his intention, and sighed softly, imitating him: “All things flourish in spring, each finds its place; myriad phenomena are empty, one spirit alone appears.”

In the next moment, the calm water surface trembled, as if something was about to break through, but after a few seconds, everything vanished. Not even a petal appeared, nor a blade of grass.

“See? I told you, I can’t condense essence.” Chu Zaishuang shrugged, speaking with conviction. “I don’t have a Primordial Spirit Flower.”

Fei Wanghuai stared intently at the pond, his expression even more serious than hers. “Try again.”

“No matter how many times I try, it’ll be the same.” She pointed. “All things flourish in spring, each finds its place; myriad phenomena are empty, one spirit alone appears!”

Again, the clear water trembled, but no flower formed.

Fei Wanghuai’s brows knitted tightly, deeply puzzled. She wasn’t lying. If her cultivation was poor and she couldn’t skillfully condense a flower, there should at least be water rising, not just surface ripples. This was a symptom of lacking a Dao heart.

But she had no Dao heart, yet could stab him to death-wasn’t that even more bizarre?

“Friend, my dear friend.” Chu Zaishuang saw him lost in thought and called out repeatedly, persuading, “Maybe we really should see a doctor. Your current state is quite alarming.”

Fei Wanghuai might appear proper on the surface, but in private, he was often suspicious and erratic, far worse than her Soul Separation Syndrome.

Fei Wanghuai said, “You can’t make the water rise; maybe the technique is wrong.”

Chu Zaishuang heard his doubts and replied perfunctorily, “Ah, yes, yes. Although the Rippling Water Technique has been passed down for thousands of years and practiced by countless cultivators, I can’t use it, so it’s the technique’s fault, not mine.”

He glanced at her. “Just because it’s been passed down for thousands of years doesn’t mean it’s reliable-it’s just suitable for most people.”

She clutched her head and wailed, “You’re really persistent. Must you be so stubborn?”

“Let’s try another technique. Follow me once more.”

“…”

Chu Zaishuang thought to herself, although her new desk mate was a bit crazy, maybe he could really accomplish great things. He never gave up until he achieved his goal, and just this persistence alone surpassed countless others. She was completely worn down and nodded like a pecking chick, agreeing, “Alright, alright, let’s try, come on!”

His lashes, dark as crow feathers, lowered as he turned his Silver Fan horizontally and recited, “Golden mechanism, flying lightning; white arises in the empty chamber; round and rolling, neither mist nor smoke.”

Suddenly, smoke rose from the fan’s surface, and tiny lightning bolts burst forth, instantly exploding into a thousand petals of Rosa Multiflora. Golden lightning circled the white flower, crackling loudly!

“Is this also a basic technique?” Chu Zaishuang blinked curiously. The Rippling Water Technique focused on water, while this technique focused on lightning.

“That’s right. It’s called the Golden Lightning Technique, also used for practicing Gathering Qi and Condensing Essence. Give it a try.”

Fei Wanghuai knew many techniques for Gathering Qi and Condensing Essence, but most were only suitable for demon cultivators. Only the Golden Lightning Technique, taught by his mother, worked for both spiritual and demonic energy. It was his introductory technique, and now he passed it on to her.

The Golden Lightning Technique didn’t require water. Under his guidance, Chu Zaishuang extended both hands as if holding a sphere and recited, “Golden mechanism, flying lightning; white arises in the empty chamber; round and rolling, neither mist nor smoke!”

White smoke gathered in her palms, but unfortunately, no golden lightning appeared, and nothing manifested.

She truly lacked a Dao heart and wasn’t lying.

“How could this be?” Fei Wanghuai instantly closed his fan, rarely feeling stumped. He had come all the way to Lotus Peak Mountain, only to find a dead end.
Chu Zaishuang straightened her back even more, her voice ringing out, “That’s right. I’m useless – you misunderstood!”

Fei Wanghuai fell silent, his eyes deep as he scrutinized her, as if he wanted to stare a hole right through her.

After a long while, he finally relented and said, “Fine. Since you don’t have a Dao Heart, you can just read idle books in the Lecture Hall from now on. I won’t bother you about cultivation anymore.”

As long as she was within his sight, whether she cultivated or not truly didn’t matter.

“Really?” Chu Zaishuang said happily. “Put it in writing – don’t you dare go back on your word!”

He heard her excitement, glanced at her, and let out a soft laugh. “Childish.”

“Yeah, you’re not childish, and yet you want to compete with me,” she pouted. “How do you even have the nerve to say that?”

Fei Wanghuai was already at the Four Leaves Initial Stage, yet he wanted to compete with her, a Three Leaves Initial Stage. If word got out, people would laugh their heads off. She really didn’t know what he was thinking – he was giving himself way too much credit.

“What’s so embarrassing about it? I really do want to compete with you.” Fei Wanghuai sat calmly at the Go board, glanced over the current game, and picked up a white stone. “Come on, let’s drop the talk about cultivation. The game’s not over yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“We haven’t decided a winner yet, have we?” Fei Wanghuai smiled, eyes narrowing. “As long as there’s no winner, I’ll keep coming to play Go with you.”

Chu Zaishuang: “By ‘deciding the winner,’ you mean you win and I lose, right?”

“Of course,” Fei Wanghuai nodded bluntly. “And I mean you giving it your all.”

She hesitated. “There’s something I’m not sure I should say.”

“What is it?”

“If you want to stick to me for a lifetime, just say so – no need to be so roundabout.” She peeked at him, voice timid. “Why insist on beating me at Go? That’s never going to happen.”

Fei Wanghuai: “?”

She actually made him laugh, frustrated. “Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

“Stating facts isn’t confidence.”

“…”

Fei Wanghuai didn’t want to argue further. He simply set down his white stone, activating the white dragon on the Go board. The black and white forces were evenly matched – clearly the result of her playing alone, with stones scattered across the board.

Chu Zaishuang said no more, sitting down cross-legged in leisure and following with her move, holding nothing back. Her mind was filled with endless Go patterns; even Xiao Shi, who had played with her since childhood, could hardly win against her.

Fei Wanghuai played fast, his attacks sharp and well-paced, pressuring the black stones on multiple fronts. Bold and incisive, every step was calculated; soon, the 361 intersections (the Go board’s points) were forming a sweeping encirclement under his hands, gathering into a fierce force.

By comparison, Chu Zaishuang’s play was far more elusive. She often came up with strange tactics, yet always managed to break his formation and dodge danger. At critical moments, she’d suddenly turn the tables, carve out new territory for black, and begin steadily suppressing white.

Gradually, Fei Wanghuai covered his mouth, deep in thought, his moves slowing. With black’s expansion, he couldn’t find a good spot to play. If he didn’t fight back soon, he’d be surrounded.

Chu Zaishuang, no longer reserved like during their first game, pressed, “Come on, are you going to play or not? I’ve waited so long my Primordial Spirit Flower has wilted.”

“You never had a Primordial Spirit Flower to begin with.” Fei Wanghuai glared at her. “You didn’t talk this much last time.”

“I was being polite when we first met. Didn’t dare mess with your mindset.” She looked completely innocent. “Playing Go without a little mischief is only half as fun.”

Fei Wanghuai forced himself to focus and kept thinking.

“The stone’s round enough – stop fussing with it. Even a flower would wilt waiting for you.”

He was interrupted again and forced a smile. “…Quiet.”

“No way, no way. There isn’t really someone who plays Go without talking, right? If you don’t talk, how can you win? Isn’t it just a game of hands?”

“…”

By the end of the game, Fei Wanghuai was utterly crushed – not just on the board, but mentally too. He had no idea where she got so much nonsense, but she always managed to rile him up. The more agitated he got, the messier his play, until he just couldn’t turn it around – his defense fell apart.

Other people might lack martial ethics, but she lacked Go ethics!

After several losses in a row, he was clearly dizzy and out of sorts, and called it off: “Tomorrow. We’ll play again.”

She always set the pace, making it hard for him to turn things around. It was better to retreat for now, before the losses got any worse.

Seeing his frown, Chu Zaishuang comforted him with a smile, “That’s enough, just give up. You’re a Go genius, but unfortunately, I’m the god of Go.”

“…”

Fei Wanghuai pushed the Go board aside, stood up, and left, insisting, “Tomorrow. We’ll play again.”

Chu Zaishuang watched his defeated back leave, humming a little tune. She casually tossed the black stones back, then picked up the teapot and poured herself some tea, saying contentedly, “Ha, competing with me – he’s just asking for trouble.”

Her cultivation was only average, but she had never lost a game of Go. Right now, she felt especially pleased – as if she were riding high on a spring breeze.

[Exactly! So what if he has a flower? We’re even better off without one – we made him wilt from the inside out!]

Chu Zaishuang, delighted by her win, held her tea and started humming a song: “Under the bridge by my door, all things in harmony, everything in its place, all phenomena empty, a single spirit appears…”

She just made up words as she went, singing whatever came to mind.

“Golden machine flies with lightning, white appears in the empty room, round and spinning, neither mist nor smoke – victory at Go! Round and spinning, neither mist nor smoke – victory at Go!”

As her nursery rhyme rose, the tea rippled. Suddenly, crackling sounds filled the air as countless droplets burst from the cup, condensing midair into glowing spheres, interwoven with thin currents, like brilliant stars in the night!

They weren’t grass blades or flower petals, but swirling, flowing balls of light – impossible to identify what they really were!

Xiao Shi exclaimed: [What is this…]

Chu Zaishuang’s eyes trembled too. She stared in shock at the orbs of light for a long moment before coming back to her senses. She quickly peeked in the direction Fei Wanghuai had gone, and muttered nervously, “This is bad, he really is a master. If he finds out, I’m done for!”

She was supposed to be useless, but even that had been put to use – what could he possibly not be able to do?