The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 6

Su Hongli was practicing with her teacup when a sudden mocking remark made her heart tremble violently. Distracted for a moment, she made a mistake with the Rippling Water Technique-the blade of grass in her hand turned into clear water, splashing back into the cup and leaving water stains all over the table.

She had been so close to success, only to fail at the last moment.

Su Hongli bit her lip in disappointment. She didn’t even need to look up to know who had spoken.

Lu Hewei saw her fail at the technique, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. He signaled to his companions, his tone dripping with sarcasm: “What’s there to say? You lot just don’t know how to get things done. Learn from her-just please the Medicine Elder, and even if your Primordial Spirit Flower is a weed, you’ll pass the assessment.”

“That’s right. We work hard for the exam, but some people just get in through the back door!”

Su Hongli muttered, “I didn’t get in through the back door. The Medicine Elder told me that as long as I could pick out the Elegant Water Grass, I could join the Lotus Flower Sect…”

“The entrance assessment has a unified standard, but it’s different for you? And you say you didn’t get in through the back door? Don’t be so shameless!”

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Su Hongli’s face flushed bright red. The room felt eerily quiet, as if no one noticed, yet at the same time, she sensed a strange buzz-disciples were sneaking glances at her, even gossiping about her background.

Su Hongli was born on a remote island among the Qionglian Twelve Islands, where few cultivators lived-mostly farmers and ordinary folk. Her family was poor, unable to afford the registration fee at Lotus Peak Mountain. By chance, she met the Medicine Elder, who was traveling on the island, and was admitted exceptionally for her knowledge of spiritual herbs.

Lu Hewei somehow learned of this and began targeting her, saying that a farmer’s daughter dreaming of cultivation was pure delusion. His family was prestigious-his father was one of the Island Lords-and he gathered a group of scions, running rampant and unchecked in the Lecture Hall.

Xiao Shi watched the scene, surprised: [This snot-nosed brat is pretty arrogant!]

Thinking back, when Chu Bingxiao took Chu Zaishuang out to play, Lu Hewei used to run after them, insisting on tagging along, crying and sniffling all the way. Now, the little follower among the children had somehow become a bully.

Chu Zaishuang said nothing. She looked at the white-robed disciples surrounding Su Hongli, certain that Aunt Sun had misunderstood. Cultivators weren’t necessarily better than ordinary people-aside from spiritual energy and Primordial Spirit Flowers, some cultivators’ temperaments were worse than common folk, no different from thugs smashing up a roast duck shop.

The harassment continued. Lu Hewei and his group’s laughter was grating. It wasn’t that no one noticed this episode, but most disciples turned their heads slightly, pretending not to see, leaving Su Hongli isolated and helpless.

There were two factions in the Lecture Hall: one led by Fei Wanghuai, made up of grassroots disciples; the other by Lu Hewei, composed of scions from powerful families. Aside from Fei Wanghuai, no one dared provoke Lu Hewei, fearing they’d be bitten by a mad dog.

Li Jingjie was the first to speak up, frowning: “Enough. If you have questions about the assessment standards, why not ask the Medicine Elder directly? You’re just bullying the weak…”

Others, seeing him step forward, whispered, “Jingjie, don’t say anymore. Let’s go find Senior Brother Chu.”

As expected, Li Jingjie’s words had no effect-in fact, they made Lu Hewei and his group even more aggressive.

“What? So eager to speak for her-are you another back-door case?”

“Haha, maybe his family farms too. The two of them could do man-plowing and woman-weaving.”

“Losers love to stick together. Both your Primordial Spirit Flowers are weeds-makes sense you’re a match!”

Li Jingjie’s Primordial Spirit Flower was Jingjie, Su Hongli’s was Mountain Hemp Seed-both were inconspicuous mountain plants, their stamens tiny, looking very much like weeds.

Everyone knew that famous flowers were more likely to forge powerful Flower Realms. The Lotus Flower Sect was renowned for its “lotus”-which was why Golden Lotus Condensing Emerald was so astonishing.

The two were hit where it hurt. Li Jingjie clenched his fists, Su Hongli endured in silence, head bowed. Outnumbered, they could only hope the long torment would end soon.

“Some things are decided at birth-dragons birth dragons, phoenixes birth phoenixes, mice birth burrowers. Weeds shouldn’t dream of climbing up.” Lu Hewei spotted Su Hongli’s hair chain, sneered, and reached out to grab it. “Only commoners from the foot of the mountain wear weeds on their heads-how rustic…”

Splash! Water flew everywhere!

The moment Lu Hewei touched the hair chain, water was flung into his face out of nowhere. He hurriedly let go, angrily wiping his face. Looking up, he shouted, “Chu Zaishuang, what are you doing!?”

Chu Zaishuang held her teacup, blinking innocently. “Sorry, I’m practicing.”

“Practicing and you splash water in my face?”

“Can’t help it. I’m just a loser who got into the Lotus Flower Sect through the back door-I can’t even master the Rippling Water Technique.”

Li Jingjie and Su Hongli were both stunned-they hadn’t expected her to speak up, and with such a sense of justice.

Chu Zaishuang, unlike her brother’s coldness, had gentle features and spoke softly, seeming harmless. Yet facing a group, she showed no fear, her demeanor upright and unyielding.

“You want to stand up for them?” Lu Hewei sneered. “I advise you to mind your own business. What does this have to do with you?”

“I’m not standing up for anyone. Your face got in the way of my technique and delayed my practice-how is it not my business?” Chu Zaishuang replied casually. “I’m generous. If you kneel and kowtow a few times right now, I’ll let it go and won’t hold it against you!”

Everyone: “???” Wait, isn’t that line a bit villainous?

It was something a thug smashing up a roast duck shop would say-she was copying it perfectly, her lazy tone somehow sounding magnanimous.

“You splashed me, and you want me to kowtow?” Lu Hewei was stunned by her shamelessness. “Don’t think being the Sect Leader’s Daughter lets you bully people. You’re just a Three Leaves stage loser-”
“So what if I’m a Three Leaves rookie and a good-for-nothing? Some things are decided the moment you’re born. Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a mouse’s son will dig holes. My father has always been stronger than yours, so I was born nobler than you. You should be grateful just to kowtow to me.”

Lu Hewei was furious. “Utter nonsense! Completely unreasonable!”

Her bright eyes sparkled, innocent and pure as she replied, “Isn’t this your logic? Why are you angry?”

It was clearly his own words; she was merely imitating his behavior, and yet he flew into a rage.

“How did I offend you? Why go so far for them?” Lu Hewei, mindful of her status, suppressed his anger and reminded her in a low voice, “We’ve known each other longer, after all.”

“You stole my thunder, and it makes me very unhappy. I used to be absent from the Lecture Hall, but from now on, as long as I’m here, only I get to use my family background to pressure others.” Chu Zaishuang pointed her thumb at herself, then swept her gaze over Lu Hewei and his companions. “Either you become my underlings, or you disband right now-no more forming cliques!”

She was simple and unpretentious, her voice as melodious as a yellow oriole, yet her words were sharp as blades.

“Is the Island Lord’s son so impressive? Sorry, but I’m laying my cards on the table-my father is Su Tingyun. Your father is only fit to carry my father’s shoes-”

“Nonsense!”

Lu Hewei, provoked by Chu Zaishuang’s tone, felt his anger boil over and lunged at her with a fist, his momentum fierce. He was already at Three Leaves Late Stage, ranked second among the disciples-no one could stop him!

Su Hongli cried out in alarm, “Careful!”

Li Jingjie quickly rose, reaching out to intercept, but was half a beat too late. “It’s over-”

Thud!

The heavy punch did not land on flesh, but was blocked by the silver ribs of a fan, producing a dull sound. In a flash, a pale green butterfly flew from Chu Zaishuang’s arms, and a figure in white stood before her, tall and imposing like a snowy mountain, bringing a chill wherever he went.

His dark eyes were deep as pools, holding the fan in one hand, wielding it like a sword. The straight fan handle gleamed coldly, and with a single strike, he sent the attacker flying, his smile tinged with frost. “That’s enough.”

Lu Hewei’s punch missed, and he was forced back two steps, gritting his teeth. “Fei Wanghuai!”

No one knew when Fei Wanghuai had returned, but he had stopped the chaos. He had just collected his things and found an excuse to return to the Lecture Hall, intending to further investigate her Primordial Spirit Flower. Unexpectedly, before entering, he heard the commotion inside.

The pale green butterfly fluttered up and down, still circling Chu Zaishuang, dancing in the air like a firefly at night.

Others did not know the butterfly’s origin, but Fei Wanghuai was well aware. It was formed from Chu Bingxiao’s spiritual energy; had he not arrived in time, the green butterfly would have intervened and ensured her safety.

Fei Wanghuai glanced around. “Other than proper sparring, disciples are forbidden from fighting privately. Otherwise, it’s a violation of sect rules.”

“Don’t give me that Senior Brother Chu routine. Do you really think you’re the teaching senior?” Lu Hewei was unimpressed, glaring at Chu Zaishuang. “Why don’t you ask who started it?”

Chu Zaishuang had never panicked from the start. She sprawled across the desk like sticky rice cake, swaying left and right, fanning the flames. “I’m just a useless good-for-nothing. If you’ve got the guts, hit me! Go on, hit me-”

Fei Wanghuai watched her shameless act. “?”

Was it that he didn’t understand the Immortal Sect’s ways, or was this really the future Immortal Venerable?

Seeing her arrogance, Lu Hewei grew even angrier and made to charge forward. “You all heard that, right? Who’s really provoking whom!?”

Fei Wanghuai stepped aside to block him, holding his fan between them, and decided to play peacemaker. “Let it go, let it go. They’re just kids.”

He’d been stabbed through and didn’t even complain.

Chu Zaishuang peeked out from behind Fei Wanghuai and even made a face at Lu Hewei. “Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh!”

Lu Hewei was livid.

His companions, seeing him lose control and fearing things would escalate, quickly chimed in quietly, “That’s right, Hewei, she’s still the Sect Leader’s child. Don’t be impulsive!”

“If you don’t stop now, when Senior Brother Chu comes back, we’ll really be in trouble…”

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Before the words were finished, a cold, piercing male voice came from outside the Lecture Hall: “What are you all doing?”

“Senior Brother Chu.” Everyone was startled.

Chu Bingxiao’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face stern. He had received the green butterfly’s message, strode into the room, and swept his gaze over the chaotic scene, his voice deep: “Now that you’re wearing the Cloud Water Robe, you should be cautious in speech and conduct, and keep your hearts clear. This is cultivation time, yet you’re causing a commotion in the Lecture Hall, violating the rules of the Lotus Flower Sect.”

His words were calm and measured, but they made the disciples uneasy. Everyone knew Senior Brother Chu was strict with the rules, lived an ascetic life himself, and was intolerant of any transgressions, treating everyone equally and with utmost rigor.

His expression was cold. “Who started this trouble?”

No one answered in the room; not a sound was made.

The disciples exchanged glances in secret, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground, afraid to draw attention.

As the teaching senior, Chu Bingxiao read the truth from their expressions and named names: “Chu Zaishuang, Lu Hewei.”

Chu Zaishuang slowly stood up, Lu Hewei clenched his fists, and they stepped out from the crowd.

“The Lecture Hall is a place for seeking truth and cultivating character, not for stirring up trouble. You two are suspended from classes for a month and will serve your punishment at the Silent Stone.”

Lu Hewei’s eyes trembled. “Senior Brother Chu, is it really necessary to suspend us for a month? Isn’t that a bit…”

Chu Zaishuang’s eyes lit up, and she cheered, “That’s absolutely right!”

Fei Wanghuai: “…”

Well, Chu Bingxiao, what’s with the stern face? How is this a punishment? For her, it’s clearly a reward!”