Yao Realm Exchange Student - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After being honest with Pei Gu, I thought it over and decided not to listen to my parents’ advice.

Actually, I’ve been a very well-behaved child since I was little, but now I’m an adult and have the right to make my own decisions.

Pei Gu said he doesn’t eat people, so I believe he won’t actually treat me as vanilla ice cream and eat me.

After all, he can’t even digest these auras now, let alone actively absorb them.

It’s like a huge tub of vanilla ice cream-if he ate it all in one go, he’d probably get an upset stomach, right?

All in all, with this inexplicable confidence and under Pei Gu’s protection, I continued to study unperturbed at the Four Seas Academy-usually he would keep himself hidden and not appear before me.

But we had an agreement: when I was surrounded by my monster classmates and didn’t know how to handle their enthusiasm, I would discreetly put my hand behind my back and make a gesture, and Pei Gu would appear at the right moment to scare them off.

This tactic never failed, and it saved me a lot of trouble in my academic life.

Meanwhile, Teacher Qingniao told me that the Matchmaking Corner was abandoned and needed a week of renovations.

Although the name “Matchmaking Corner” was a bit hard to overlook, my attention was drawn to something else-the awkward yet polite smile on Teacher Qingniao’s face.

This expression was somewhat familiar, and a sudden inspiration struck me; I couldn’t help but guess, “Could it be because they’re auctioning off slots for the Matchmaking Corner around this time?”

Teacher Qingniao: “…”

Me: “…”

We stared at each other for a moment, then Teacher Qingniao began to assure me earnestly, “Don’t worry! Even though they’re auctioned, the slots this time are the cream of the crop, personally screened by the principal and the dean of students. There definitely won’t be any difficult students!”

The familiar phrasing made me nod in partial understanding, and somehow, as if possessed, I asked, “Then, does Pei Gu count as hard to get along with?”

As soon as I said that, Teacher Qingniao’s expression froze.

Then, from the tree behind me, there came a rustling sound. Branches and leaves suddenly fluttered down, covering the ground, as if some monster standing in the tree had slipped and nearly fallen off.

“Um…” Teacher Qingniao seemed unsure of what I meant, and hesitantly said, “Pei Gu is, after all, a fierce beast…”

“But he’s clearly an auspicious beast,” I said, puzzled. “Teacher Qingniao, how do you all distinguish between auspicious and fierce beasts?”

“Well…” Teacher Qingniao said quietly, “Actually, there aren’t any strictly fierce beasts in our academy, since everyone’s true form is recorded in the student files, and truly vicious beasts can’t get in… So ‘fierce’ usually refers to temperament…”

“But his temperament isn’t fierce,” I said without thinking, earnestly explaining to Teacher Qingniao. “He sits in the back when he audits classes, doesn’t bother other students, and even hands in assignments on his own initiative. He knows his classmates are afraid of him, so he barely appears in front of them. And he’s also helpful, often lending me a hand.”

The rustling branches suddenly became still again.

Teacher Qingniao paused, then looked at me with an indescribable expression. “Xiao Xia, you’re not-”

I realized that Pei Gu was standing in the tree behind us, listening. Hearing Teacher Qingniao’s words, for some reason, I suddenly felt nervous, my heart skipping a beat.

“You’re not thinking of signing a Lifelong Contract with Pei Gu, are you?” Teacher Qingniao looked worried. “But your family wouldn’t agree. Besides, Pei Gu keeps to himself, and he didn’t bid in the auction for the Matchmaking Corner slots… He probably has no interest in going to the Human Realm.”

I was silent for a few seconds. “I didn’t mean that. I know, Teacher Qingniao.”

“To be honest, I’d also like not to be afraid of him. Teachers should treat all students equally, after all,” Teacher Qingniao sighed, looking a bit dejected. “But there’s no help for it. Pei Gu is a Qilin, after all. For us ordinary little monsters, fear is instinctual. Not kneeling before him is already a feat…”

“But,” Teacher Qingniao’s tone shifted, “it’s strange. Xiao Xia, is it because of your bloodline? When Pei Gu stands next to you, that aura seems less frightening.”

Me: “Hmm… maybe I aid his digestion?”

Teacher Qingniao: “?”

Me: “After all, I’m like a pre-meal dessert, an appetizer.”

Teacher Qingniao: “… Huh??”

After this conversation with Teacher Qingniao ended, Pei Gu and I went to eat together.

He looked at me as if wanting to say something but was conflicted, and finally managed to squeeze out, “I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose.”

I smiled: “I know.”

“You don’t have to…” Pei Gu’s voice remained cold and pleasant, “speak so much for me.”

“I’m not speaking for you,” I corrected him. “I was just expressing my own honest opinion.”

“-In my heart, you are very good, not fierce at all.”

Pei Gu froze.

The upright young man was stiff as a sculpture at that moment, his expression cold as water. Even the indifference and hostility between his brows grew more distinct, and only the faint blush spreading to his ears could confirm his true emotions.

He pursed his lips, lowered his voice, and said softly, “You are also very good.”

Looking at the gentle expression in his eyes like moonlight, I somehow suddenly remembered what Teacher Qingniao had said earlier, “He didn’t participate in the auction,” and my mood suddenly became a little low.

No matter how good, you still don’t want to sign a contract with me…

This feeling lingered in my heart for only a moment before it startled me-how could I think like that?

Whatever choice Pei Gu makes is his freedom; I can’t just because most classmates want to sign a contract with me, think that he must also choose this way, right?

That’s so narcissistic!

After harshly scolding myself awake, I seriously started preparing for the Sunday meeting at the Matchmaking Corner.

The so-called Matchmaking Corner was actually a small pavilion in the academy, in the middle of the lake, surrounded by a lush metasequoia forest, very secluded.

Although I didn’t know who the first meeting would be with, it should also be an auspicious beast; perhaps I needed to prepare some gifts to express friendliness.

-This mood only lasted until the second before I met this classmate.

“Yo,” the lively-looking boy with a handsome face was full of surprise, “Xiao Xia, haven’t seen you since last time.”

Me: “…”

Yes, he was the classmate who asked me how many meals Kunpeng could provide as soon as school started.

I could only greet him in return: “Long time no see.”

I shared with him the little dinosaur cookies I brought from the Human Realm, and he stared at my cookies for a while: “Is this a dragon?”

I was very confused: “These are cookies.”

“Classmate, I’m really curious,” he suddenly became profound, “I heard that you humans used to eat dragon marrow and phoenix liver. Is that true?”

Me: “…Maybe… just rumors…”

“I am a Dragon and Phoenix Descendant, Chaofeng,” Chaofeng’s expression was somewhat tragic, as if ready to die, “If I sign a contract with you, will you eat both my marrow and liver?”

Me: “…??”

That sounds too violent!

Me: “I will not, really.”
“That’s great.” Chaofeng changed faces in one second and became cheerful again. “I can secretly cut off a bit of Kunpeng for you to eat. I heard them say that in the past, only one human named Zhuangzi managed to eat an entire Kunpeng by himself. Since you have not tasted it, I can let you try something fresh. He is so huge anyway, he will not notice.”

Me: “…”

I had no idea where he heard that from, but I had the feeling his grade in “History of Human Civilization” might really be rather poor.

Four Seas Academy was an institute of higher learning. It taught the construction of the Yao Realm, how humans and yao should get along, how yao could survive in the Human Realm, and relations among the Six Realms. It was basically equivalent to a university in the Human Realm, except with many strange social courses added.

The way yao think is quite different from humans. I had deeply felt that over the past few days.

Although Chaofeng was a little unreliable, he was warm and enthusiastic. After chatting with him for a while, I could not help asking curiously, “If you are the son of a dragon and a phoenix, shouldn’t you be in the Immortal Realm?”

Beings like dragons and phoenixes mostly transcend the category of yao and possess their own divine status and immortal bodies.

“Well…” Chaofeng looked up at the sky, seeming a little guilty. “The Immortal Realm is too boring, so I came to the Yao Realm.”

Me: “Oh…”

“And it is not just me. You know Zhuque, who transferred to your Human Realm this time? He was born as one of the Four Directions Divine Lords, and he still came down from the Divine Realm. And Diting is a divine beast of the Netherworld, yet he also came to Four Seas Academy,” Chaofeng said with perfect confidence. “Fine, I will tell the truth. Right now, the Yao Realm has the highest education level. The immortals and gods in the Immortal Realm and Divine Realm are busy working 996, while the Demon Realm and Netherworld started late, so everyone sends their children to the Yao Realm for schooling.”

I did know a little about the Six Realms, but the idea that Four Seas Academy was basically a daycare center still shocked me.

So was Pei Gu also sent here to be looked after?

“But there is another reason,” Chaofeng said awkwardly, clearing his throat. “The current White Dragon King of the Immortal Realm is a distant cousin of mine. She has a very good appetite. After marrying Yuexia Xingjun, she nearly ate Yuelao Hall empty… Of course, that is not the point. I am just giving an example. In short, starting from her generation, the appetite of our White Dragon Clan has increased day by day. The East Sea Dragon Palace could not keep up with the inventory, so the old White Dragon King chased us juniors who were still living off the clan out to support ourselves…”

Me: “…”

Chaofeng: “…”

Well, so it turned out he couldn’t afford to keep me.

In short, Chaofeng’s words gave me a new thought-if I really signed a Lifelong Contract with him, could I afford to support him? Would he also eat our family out of house and home?

I asked him cautiously, “Then, if you go to the Human Realm, can you also fend for yourself?”

Chaofeng answered matter-of-factly, “Of course. You might not be able to tell by my appearance, but I’m the hardest-working employee in the White Dragon Clan.”

Me: “…Alright.”

So I gave him a petal of the Tianshan Snow Lotus.

On second thought, Chaofeng wasn’t bad-after all, his bloodline was noble, enough to suppress the Seal inside me.

But when I returned to the dorm after class in the afternoon, I found that Pei Gu, who usually came down to chat with me, was nowhere to be seen.

Surprised, I called out into the empty space, “Pei Gu?”

The tall, slender youth then landed by my side, his lips pressed tightly together. His headband was jet-black like ink, setting off his jade-like complexion, even diminishing a bit of his fierce, baleful aura.

I didn’t notice anything amiss. “Still want to learn today? Human writing.”

I had already figured out that Pei Gu stopped coming to audit classes because Teacher Qingniao was too afraid, but he still always wanted to learn these characters-the exact reason I’m not sure, maybe to send letters to his mother in the Human Realm?

He didn’t speak for a long while. When he finally did, he didn’t answer my question. “Are you going to choose Chaofeng?”

I blinked, then told him honestly, “Maybe…”

Pei Gu looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end said nothing, only lowered his head.

For some reason, I felt his mood was a bit off, but when I looked closely, his gaze was as frosty as falling snow, his expression cold and stern-no different from before.

My dorm had been specially warded, so there wasn’t a single monster around. At that moment, the sun was setting, the crimson afterglow like blood, and the wispy clouds on the horizon were dyed a light golden-red, a magnificent beauty beyond words.

I was silent for a few seconds. “Would you like to see my sword?”

Only then did he look up, his expression somewhat puzzled.

I said seriously, “That sword has long since merged with me. I used to practice sword dances every day, so it’s quite close to me. I can dance with it for you.”

Although I didn’t know why Pei Gu was in a bad mood-or if he was even in a bad mood at all-I figured that when you’re unhappy, you should just eat some vanilla ice cream.

If one bite isn’t enough, then a whole cup.

He stared at me blankly, and the frosty chill in his eyes seemed to melt a little under the beautiful sunset.

I focused, held my breath, and summoned the sword from inside me-

In an instant, a howling wind rose between heaven and earth, blowing the blossoms and leaves off a nearby tree, scattering them like snowflakes.

I gripped the sword hilt and began practicing, just as I had done hundreds of times before.

Though I didn’t know what I looked like now, an elder had once praised me as “sweeping like a graceful dragon, swift as a startled swan”-it probably wasn’t too bad.

After finishing the sword dance, my breath was a little unsteady, my panting quick. I felt the energy rampaging inside me grow even more chaotic. Just as I was feeling dizzy and my vision blurring, Pei Gu grabbed my wrist.

His eyes, like cold stars, gazed at me intently. The frost and snow in them seemed to have completely melted away-not a trace of chill remained, only a clear, cool spring and gentle moonlight, warm and limpid, yet hiding many complex emotions unknown in the darkness of the night.

Pei Gu appeared cold and unfeeling, but his body temperature was high, and the hand holding mine was warm.

His fingertips rested on my wrist bone, and a warm, familiar feeling instantly spread. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally gave me a gentle tug.

We were so close that with just a slight movement, my nose could touch his chest.

A crisp, pleasant scent emanating from Pei Gu instantly overwhelmed me. But at the same time, that warm feeling spread instantly through every part of my body. I felt like I was soaking in a hot spring, totally relaxed, even a bit drowsy. My body went limp, and I nearly fell.

Was this the power of the Black Qilin’s bloodline?

I thought to myself, This is way too… way too addictive.