The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 7

The entry-level disciples did not expect Chu Bingxiao to uphold justice over family ties. Facing his own sister, he showed no leniency in punishment, immediately issuing a one-month suspension from studies.

Under the gaze of all, Su Hongli mustered her courage and stepped forward. She had always been quiet and reserved, rarely speaking up on her own initiative: “It was Lu Hewei and the others who spoke about me first. She stood up for me, so…”

Unfortunately, she was tongue-tied and not adept at complaining, unable to clearly explain the sequence of events right away.

Fei Wanghuai could not allow Chu Zaishuang to be suspended; all her efforts would be wasted. He pleaded tactfully, “Senior Brother Chu, Zaishuang has always been childlike and straightforward. She’s just arrived at the Lecture Hall and is still adjusting. Compared to actually laying hands on her classmates, she only made a few excessive jokes. There’s really no need for a one-month suspension.”

Lu Hewei, hearing Fei Wanghuai shift the blame onto him and clearly trying to absolve Chu Zaishuang, retorted angrily, “Fei Wanghuai, why are you butting in?”

Li Jingjie chimed in, “Exactly, we can all testify-it was just a joke.”

“If that was a joke, then I was joking too!”

Chu Zaishuang immediately clapped her hands, suddenly enlightened, “So you were joking?”

Lu Hewei gritted his teeth, “What? Is that not allowed?”

Chu Zaishuang blinked, “So just now you were being sarcastic. In reality, you think she’s amazing for being able to pick out Elegant Water Grass, something even you, from a family of spirit herb experts, can’t do. Medicine Elder was right to choose her as a disciple; she’s a great role model for you to learn from and admire!”

Su Hongli was stunned.

Lu Hewei, on the other hand, looked as if he had swallowed a fly, instinctively refuting, “What nonsense are you talking about…” How could he possibly take a farm girl as his role model!?

His companions quickly tugged at his sleeve, whispering, “Hewei, just endure it for now. Otherwise, take the opportunity to back down.”

“Yeah, if you really get suspended for a month, how will you explain it to the Island Lord?”

Chu Zaishuang, dressed in a yellow shirt, was like a little yellow flower in the snow, especially eye-catching among the entry-level disciples. She watched Lu Hewei and the others with great interest.

After hearing his companions, Lu Hewei met Chu Zaishuang’s bright apricot eyes and suddenly understood her intent. She wanted to put him on the spot, forcing him to say the most humiliating words. If he acknowledged Su Hongli, it would all become a joke, and he’d lose face in the Lecture Hall.

But if he didn’t say it, then his “joke” would turn into trouble, and if he really got suspended for a month, the elders would scold him to death.

Not long ago, his father had raged at home, saying he wasn’t as clever as the farm girl, couldn’t win Medicine Elder’s favor, and couldn’t even recognize Elegant Water Grass. He’d been so frustrated by the scolding that he took it out on Su Hongli.

Lu Hewei was so angry that sweat broke out on his forehead. After weighing his options, he forced out a reply: “…Mm.”

Chu Zaishuang cupped her hand to her ear, pretending not to hear, “What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

“Yes!”

Everyone knew Lu Hewei was arrogant. Hearing him admit it personally, they were all shocked, eyes wide.

Su Hongli was even more stunned, as if she didn’t recognize him, unable to recover for a long while.

“Oh-” Chu Zaishuang nodded knowingly, then glanced at Li Jingjie, “So you also think their Primordial Spirit Flowers are unique, with especially strong vitality, even stronger than yours. If it weren’t impossible to swap, you’d really want one too.”

Lu Hewei, facing countless strange looks, was so humiliated his whole body burned, “That’s enough…”

Chu Zaishuang: “What did you say?”

“…Yes!”

Li Jingjie was equally stunned, absentmindedly touching his face, “So my Primordial Spirit Flower is that good.”

“So it was just a joke, everyone’s getting along, it was all a misunderstanding.” Chu Zaishuang skipped over to Lu Hewei, slapping him heartily on the back like an old friend, making him stiffen, and laughed, “We’re all classmates, all friends.”

Chu Bingxiao’s gaze was sharp as he looked around at everyone, “Just a joke?”

“Yes, just a joke, nothing happened.”

“Right, right, all jokes… No, all just jokes, we’re just chatting during our cultivation breaks!”

Neither side wanted to be suspended, so they insisted there was no conflict. Regardless of background or cultivation level, everyone shared an unbreakable bond as fellow disciples, and for once, reached consensus.

“Jokes should not be made in the Lecture Hall. This is the only time-do not repeat it.” Chu Bingxiao warned coldly, no longer mentioning suspension, and instead said, “Bring your wooden swords to the Training Ground this afternoon.”

“Yes.”

Everyone watched Senior Brother Chu leave, finally breathing a sigh of relief, as if they’d been spared their lives.

The storm was over, and the air in the room seemed to flow again, no longer tense and hostile.

Lu Hewei had luckily avoided suspension, but having been forced to bow his head, he felt embarrassed staying in the room and soon slipped away with his companions. The group, usually arrogant in the Lecture Hall, now looked like defeated dogs, as if they’d just been beaten, even their steps faltering.

The disciples, seeing them lose their swagger, relished the earlier farce.

“Look at how deflated he is-I’ve never seen him so meek!”

“He only relies on his father being the Island Lord. This time he’s met his match; someone else’s backing is even stronger.”

Amid the chatter, Su Hongli got up to look for someone. She wanted to thank Chu Zaishuang, but the seat behind the desk was empty, so she curiously asked, “Where did she go?”

“Huh? Really.” Li Jingjie looked around, “Wanghuai’s gone too.”

*

In the corridor, Chu Zaishuang took advantage of the chaos to slip out of the Lecture Hall. Humming a tune, she walked briskly, full of joy, like a little yellow flag waving in the wind, her sleeves billowing.

[Didn’t your brother not punish you with suspension?] Xiao Shi asked in confusion. [Isn’t this the path down the mountain?]

“Yes, but I’ve deeply reflected on my mistakes and plan to punish myself with three cups-make it a three-month suspension.”

[?]

With no one around, Chu Zaishuang walked freely until she turned right and caught sight of a patch of snowy white.

By the wall, a tall male cultivator stood like a crane, arms crossed, leaning slightly against the gray railing, like bamboo that cannot be bent by the wind. Sunlight spilled over his Cloud Water Robe, illuminating it like white jade, glowing with a translucent light.

Chu Zaishuang glanced back at the path she’d come from, then at the person before her, and asked in surprise, “Why are you…”
She was supposed to leave the Lecture Hall before him.

“Where are you planning to go?” Fei Wanghuai saw her, slowly straightening up and blocking her way. “Swordsmanship is in the afternoon.”

Chu Zaishuang was caught skipping class red-handed, and she immediately became bashful, stammering, “I’ve thought it over and over, I have no face to meet the other disciples. I’d better not stay in the Lecture Hall.”

“And your reason?”

“Lu Hewei exposed my cultivation in public, saying I’m just a useless Three Leaves beginner. Everyone else is so strong, but my abilities are so poor, I can’t even lift my head. Maybe they’ll dislike me, maybe they’ll ostracize me.” She looked pitiful. “My self-esteem is wounded. It’s better if I cultivate alone…”

Fei Wanghuai raised an eyebrow, then chuckled in disbelief. “You still have self-esteem?”

He had always thought her skin was thicker than top-grade armor, probably unbreakable even by thousands of troops, which was how she managed to become Immortal Venerable.

Chu Zaishuang clutched her chest, looking heartbroken. “Even you say that? Now I’m really upset, I can’t go to the Lecture Hall at all!”

Fei Wanghuai had to admit he was used to her nonsense. Seeing her pretend to be forlorn, he took out a familiar paper bag from his sleeve and said leisurely, “Oh, well then. Looks like I’ll have to eat the Osmanthus Bun by myself.”

Chu Zaishuang recognized it instantly, and like a young beast spotting prey, she leapt toward him in delight. “Where did you get that?”

It was a paper bag from Aunt Sun’s roast duck shop, even folded in the same way. As soon as you tear open the paper, the sweet scent of Osmanthus Bun wafts out, and sometimes it’s even steaming hot.

“I was picking something up for Senior Brother Chu, so I stopped by the foot of the mountain.”

“Isn’t that really far?”

Fei Wanghuai hadn’t known why he used Boundless Reach at the time-making such a fuss just for a bag of buns-except that he remembered she liked them. By the time he came to his senses, he was already at Mortal Dust Marsh, standing in front of the roast duck shop in the busy market.

Maybe his mother was right: the Charm Clan rarely feels anything for others, but once they do, it’s always intense-whether love or hate. For various reasons, he’d accidentally invested too much emotion in her, so much that his attention was always being pulled, and he’d sometimes think about things based on her preferences.

“Are you going to eat or not?” Fei Wanghuai held the paper bag, raising his arm with one hand and stepping back, causing her to miss her pounce.

There was a noticeable height difference between them; unless Chu Zaishuang stood on tiptoe, it was hard for her to reach the Osmanthus Bun.

Her first attempt failed, but her gaze never left the bag. She kept bouncing around him, persistent. “Eat, eat, eat!”

Fei Wanghuai suddenly felt like a mortal teasing a cat. Watching her leap and swing so nimbly, he teased, “Weren’t you too sad to go to the Lecture Hall just now?”

She’d been on the verge of tears, but now she was swift and lively, almost ready to fly.

Chu Zaishuang looked aggrieved. “But I’m not so sad that I can’t eat.”

“…”

Even her fawning for food was just like a spirit beast.

Fei Wanghuai tossed her the paper bag, and she caught it with a cheer. Only then did he frown and remind her, “Always eating these things is bad for your cultivation.”

Chu Zaishuang couldn’t wait to tear open the bag. She peeked at him, timidly. “If it’s no good for cultivation, does that mean I don’t need to share with you? I see you work really hard at training.”

Fei Wanghuai: “?” That actually sounded considerate?

Seeing him smiling at her, Chu Zaishuang quickly offered him the Osmanthus Bun, obediently saying, “You pick first, you pick first.”

In the end, it was the usual routine: Fei Wanghuai only ate one, and the rest she happily accepted.

A gentle breeze drifted by, the lotus pond peaceful. The two of them leaned against the railing, eating in the quiet corridor, gazing at the drifting clouds in the distance.

The soft Osmanthus Bun was still warm; a gentle bite released sweet syrup, and the rich floral fragrance filled the air, warming one’s heart and soul.

Chu Zaishuang ate heartily, and Xiao Shi was quite satisfied too.

[Your desk mate is alright. He’s a bit nosy, but way more reliable than the food delivery guys down the mountain. If he keeps bringing buns, you two can get along!]

Lotus Peak Mountain and Mortal Dust Marsh were far apart, yet the Osmanthus Bun was still warm-a miracle.

Fei Wanghuai glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing her cheeks puffed out, eating with obvious delight.

He found plenty of justification for fetching the buns himself: it was a chance to investigate his nemesis’s weaknesses, hoping she’d lower her guard sooner. He’d asked Aunt Sun about her past, so he could tailor his approach.

Aunt Sun said, if you want to control Chu Zaishuang, use tasty food and fun things. She’s the type to forget everything if she’s interested-like roast duck or chess manuals. If she’s not interested, she’ll flop on the ground and not react even if people step over her.

Sure enough, after finishing the Osmanthus Bun, Chu Zaishuang stretched contentedly, looking in high spirits.

He concluded the strategy was effective.

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last. Soon, she reverted to her old ways. She’d been sitting quietly next to Fei Wanghuai, but soon she started sneaking away, softly saying, “Thank you for the treat. I won’t bother you, I’ll be going now…”

Fei Wanghuai casually dropped his arm, pinning the corner of her robe so she couldn’t move. He smiled gently, his voice warm. “You just finished eating and want to run off? Do you think I’m easy to fool?”

Truly, the Osmanthus Bun only kept her in place for a moment-this strategy’s effect was short-lived!

“I don’t know, but practice makes perfect. If you really want to know, why don’t you let me try?” Chu Zaishuang twisted around, trying to tug her robe free. Her eyes darted about as she sincerely suggested, “Let me bully you a bit now, and we’ll see if you’re easy to bully.”

“…”

Aunt Sun had also said she sometimes dawdled and came up with twisted logic. At those times, don’t listen to her arguments-just make her do things, or she’ll drag it out forever.

Fei Wanghuai used his usual trick, lightly lifting her by the back of her collar, and said decisively, “Swordsmanship in the afternoon. Come with me to the Training Ground.”

“No, everyone else is so good at swordsmanship. I feel ashamed just watching, there’s no sense of achievement at all!”

“Sense of achievement?” He considered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll give you a sense of achievement.”