Chapter Fifty-Five: Conflict

Chu Feng, Xu Yan, and the other four turned at the sound of the voice. They saw two boys and three girls, all about nine years old, approaching. Among the five, the red-clad girl standing in the center was clearly their leader, while the silver-robed boy to her left was the one who had spoken.

It wasn’t hard to guess these five were likely from Camp One, but their arrogance was truly grating. Chu Feng, being seventeen, wasn’t about to stoop to bickering with a group of naïve children, but Xu Yan and the others were less inclined to tolerate such insolence. So what if they were from Camp One?

Xu Yan glanced at them with disdain. “Where did these brats come from? Did your elders never teach you manners?”

Han Yan jabbed a finger at them, barking, “What are you lot supposed to be? Even back in my day I was never so cocky! Are you looking to get yourselves killed?”

The red-clad girl frowned slightly, casting only a fleeting glance at Chu Feng among the group, saying nothing. Yet the silver-robed boy at her left looked ready to bite, glaring at the six and growling, “We’re from Camp One.”

“So what if you are? We’re from Camp Twenty,” Xu Yan replied, her tone full of pride.

At that, the group across from them burst into laughter. A white-robed girl sneered, “So you’re a bunch of bottom-dwellers. Seems we overestimated you before.”

Only the red-clad girl did not laugh. She looked at Chu Feng once more, as if sensing something. After all, for Camp Twenty’s so-called failures to be this brazen before Camp One’s prodigies, perhaps they had some hidden support. And in her eyes, the most likely candidate was the young man carrying a longsword, for he stood out not only for his age but for his calm, almost detached air.

The silver-robed boy said again, “I told you, we want that house. You’d best stand aside, or don’t blame us for not giving you a chance!”

“Oh my, did the little one just eat garlic? What a big mouth—you’re not afraid of poisoning the air?” Gu Xin fanned her hand in front of her nose with exaggerated distaste.

Di Han laughed coldly. “Ever heard of ‘first come, first served’? Marching in here without the villager’s permission—do you really think this place belongs to you?”

“That’s none of your concern. Do you know who she is? Offending her won’t do you any good,” the silver-robed boy said, pointing at the red-clad girl beside him.

Gu Xin smiled coolly and pointed at Chu Feng. “And do you know who stands beside me? Offending him will do you even less good.”

Her words made the others frown. The silver-robed boy’s eyes nearly bulged with rage. Xu Yan and the others could see clearly that his bluster was merely to curry favor with the red-clad girl, who must be someone truly extraordinary.

At that moment, the silver-robed boy could restrain himself no longer and looked about to act, but was stopped by the red-clad girl. She stepped forward, her cold face exuding a powerful confidence. She glanced over the group, her gaze settling on Chu Feng at last.

“Never thought Camp Twenty would have a newcomer as unique as you,” she said.

Chu Feng smiled lightly. “There’s much you haven’t thought of.”

Her expression darkened. “You are not my match.”

Her meaning was obvious—since he was no match for her, the house should naturally be surrendered.

Before Chu Feng could respond, Han Yan scoffed, “And who are you supposed to be?”

“You mean you haven’t heard the name Sun Xuan?” A girl standing behind the red-clad girl said haughtily.

To be fair, these youths did have some right to be proud. In just a few months, all five had awakened their Spirit Bodies, and among them, Sun Xuan’s strength far surpassed the rest.

At this, Chu Feng seemed to recall, “So you’re Sun Xuan, the one famed as the foremost of the newcomers, rumored to have already entered the Heavenly Camp.”

He’d first heard of Sun Xuan while eating in the dining hall. As the first in the newcomers’ camp to awaken her Spirit Body, her name was known to all; rumor had it that upon awakening, she was immediately sent to the Heavenly Camp.

In the months that followed, Sun Xuan’s name only grew more renowned, always considered the number one among the new recruits. Only her current progress remained a mystery. By Chu Feng’s estimation, with her talent, her cultivation must have surpassed the second rank of the Earth Spirit Warrior by now—otherwise, she would hardly be worthy of her title.

Indeed, Sun Xuan had awakened her Spirit Body in just one month, quickly completed the required tasks, entered the Heavenly Camp, and obtained cultivation methods. After three months, she was now a formidable third-rank Earth Spirit Warrior.

A third-rank Earth Spirit Warrior—among the Yellow Camp, even after seven years of arduous training, few could reach such a level.

Xu Yan and the others’ faces changed. None had expected the legendary number one would also come to Jinyang Mountain for a task.

Seeing their astonished faces, the silver-robed boy and his companions seemed quite satisfied, and even Sun Xuan allowed herself a trace of pride.

Han Yan and the others, though shocked, couldn’t help but feel deflated. In their eyes, Chu Feng was strong, but perhaps not strong enough to contend with such a figure.

They remained silent, a mix of resentment, helplessness, and unwillingness in their hearts.

Chu Feng smiled, clapping his companions on the shoulders. “It’s nothing. Since she’s the top newcomer, what harm in yielding for now? If it comes to a contest, there will be plenty of chances in the future. This is not the place for it. If we disturb the villagers’ peace, that would be a real crime.”

No matter how arrogant the five were, in Chu Feng’s eyes they were just a group of children. He had no wish to draw steel against them.

With a light smile to Sun Xuan, he turned and walked toward another, somewhat dilapidated house.

Xu Yan and the others glared at Sun Xuan’s group, eyes blazing, then followed after him.

“Smart choice,” the silver-robed boy jeered.

Fuming, Xu Yan and Han Yan led the way into the ramshackle house, and only Chu Feng’s calming words soothed their anger.

Though not as spacious as the newly built house, this one was more than enough for the six of them. They tidied up the main room, spread out sleeping mats, and half an hour later the village head came to invite them to dinner in person.

The villagers were honest and warm, sparing no generosity. Each household brought out their finest food and drink, and bonfires were lit in the village square, with two tables of sumptuous fare laid out.

“Please, help yourselves. Don’t stand on ceremony,” the village head said before leaving. It was dinnertime, and the villagers ate in their own homes.

For days, Chu Feng and the others had subsisted on dry rations. It had been a long time since they’d seen such a banquet.

They’d just sat around one table when Sun Xuan and her group arrived. Several among them flashed challenging smiles at Chu Feng’s table, then sat themselves at the other.

These five, all from Camp One, had been called geniuses since entering the Spirit War Pavilion. How could they possibly take Camp Twenty’s newcomers seriously?

“What are they showing off for?” Xu Yan muttered, shooting them a glare.

The silver-robed boy immediately turned back, small in stature but not in temper, and glared at Xu Yan. “Say that again if you dare!”

Xu Yan’s anger needed no explanation. She’d endured enough, but these brats were insufferably arrogant, always pushing their luck.

Enough was enough!

In that moment, her fury erupted like a volcano. She leapt to her feet, pointed at the silver-robed boy, and shouted, “Brat, don’t take liberties with me!”

He too stood, sneering, “You? You’re just a Camp Twenty failure. Do you really think you can strut before us? What, you want to fight?”

“To hell with you!” Xu Yan finally lost control. In a flash, she Spirit-Transformed and struck at him with her palm.

The silver-robed boy had utterly underestimated his opponent. In his mind, no newcomer from Camp Twenty could possibly have awakened their Spirit Body in such a short time; he didn’t even see Xu Yan as a contender.

He had no idea she had already awakened her Spirit Body and was now a first-rank Earth Spirit Warrior.

In that instant, when he saw her Water Spirit Body, his expression changed. Before he could Spirit-Transform, her palm landed squarely on his chest.

Though talented, he was no Sun Xuan, and was himself only a first-rank Earth Spirit Warrior.

Struck with Xu Yan’s full force, he was sent flying several meters.

The others were stunned. None had expected Camp Twenty to produce someone who had awakened their Spirit Body.

The silver-robed boy climbed to his feet, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. Even as Xu Yan’s equal, her blow had left him with a serious injury.

Ashamed and furious, he hadn’t expected such a loss from underestimating his opponent.

“Well struck!” Han Yan and the others cheered, hearts swelling with satisfaction.

“Courting death,” snarled three of Sun Xuan’s companions, leaping up, Spirit-Transforming and glaring at Xu Yan, ready to attack.

“Wait!” At that moment, Chu Feng rose and stepped in front of Xu Yan.

“Let’s leave it at that. No need to make a scene—let’s just eat,” Chu Feng said.

Xu Yan thought that if things really escalated, their side would only suffer in the end. She nodded and sat back down.

“Who said you could sit? You hurt someone and think that's the end of it?” the other boy at the table barked.

“You—” Xu Yan fumed, about to retort, but Chu Feng stopped her.

With a genial smile, Chu Feng addressed them, “My little sister has a bit of a temper, please don’t hold it against her. Such fine food and drink shouldn’t be wasted—come, let’s all sit down.”

He reached out and pressed a hand lightly on the boy’s shoulder, and the boy immediately found himself seated. Chu Feng then did the same to the two girls, who also sat obediently.

The three exchanged uneasy glances, each feeling a chill run down their spine.