Chapter 84: A Long-Awaited Reunion

After a night of cultivation, thanks to the effects of the Spirit-Nurturing Pill, Xiao Cheng not only advanced to the eighth stage of Foundation Building, but even reached the mid-to-late phase of the eighth stage in one go. In a few more days, he might break through to the ninth stage. To reach the eighth stage of Foundation Building from nothing in a month and a half—such speed would be astonishing even by the standards of the cultivation world.

He had used six pills, gifted five to Zhuo Qinglian, and kept twenty-five to present to his grandmother on her birthday. Although his grandmother was not a cultivator and could not improve her cultivation by taking the pill, it would still prolong her life.

Today, he did not bring Yun Tingyu with him. Her illness was largely stable; as long as he helped her clear her meridians every few days, the Yin Sha would be temporarily suppressed, and there was no immediate risk of relapse.

He arrived at Shanghai Chinese University after a long absence. Gazing at the energetic yet solemn campus and the students hurrying by, Xiao Cheng felt as if he had entered another world. He had not been to university in ages, but it remained as fresh as his first encounter.

Last time, Fang Yu Jia had told him that the counselor wanted him to return to school.

Today, he had come to draw a final line under his university life. Continuing his studies held no meaning for him—it would only be a waste of time. Really, there was no need for him to come to school at all; no one would mind if he didn’t. Yet, he felt he ought to finish what he started in his academic journey.

More importantly, he wanted to sever ties with his past, to create a psychological rupture.

In his previous life, he had caused untold harm to many girls in this university, achieving the legendary feat of “Shennong tasting all herbs.” However, thanks to his rebirth, he was now only a sophomore and had only spent a year on campus. Many things had not yet happened.

The feeling was bizarre—he remembered it all clearly, yet nothing had taken place. It was like waking from a dream.

For instance, the girl who had just brushed past him—he not only knew her name and hometown, but even remembered the tiny mole on her shapely hip, because in his previous life he had shared many passionate moments with her.

But now, that girl was only a freshman, and he technically had not met her yet. Nothing that happened before had happened now, and probably never would.

Xiao Cheng smiled and stepped into the familiar yet strange university.

Shanghai Chinese University was a renowned institution in Shanghai, sprawling over a vast area. The teaching buildings were packed together, separated by extravagant green belts. The bright sunlight filtered through the thick foliage, dappling the ground with patterns.

He walked past the familiar flowerbeds and fountains, past the grassy lake, and soon saw the building of the Music and Dance Department in the distance. He had studied there before, choosing it for the simplest reason: it was full of beautiful women.

Looking at the distinctive architecture of the department, Xiao Cheng suddenly froze. He saw two familiar figures.

One was Shu Fu, his childhood friend who had attended middle school, high school, and now university with him. The other was Chu Feiyu, the campus “queen” whom every boy avoided.

Shu Fu was rolling on the ground, crying out in pain, while Chu Feiyu kicked him and interrogated him about something.

Xiao Cheng was too far away to hear what they were saying. He frowned slightly. When had Shu Fu provoked Chu Feiyu? Shu Fu’s family background was quite strong—his father managed customs, and few dared to mess with him. Chu Feiyu, dressed in athletic wear and exuding heroic vigor, was the eldest daughter of the hidden Chu family in Binhai.

Chu Feiyu was formidable. In his previous life, even Xiao Cheng had suffered at her hands while at school. Why was she after Shu Fu today?

Unable to watch his childhood friend being beaten, Xiao Cheng walked over.

As he approached, he heard Chu Feiyu’s stern questioning.

“Tell me, where is Xiao Cheng? Are you going to talk or not?”

“I really don’t know!” Shu Fu pleaded repeatedly. He was telling the truth; ever since Xiao Cheng had been struck by lightning, the two had lost contact.

“Hmph!” Chu Feiyu snorted, not believing him. As Xiao Cheng’s closest friend, how could he not know where Xiao Cheng was? Since he wouldn’t talk, she showed no mercy and delivered a kick aimed squarely between Shu Fu’s legs.

From afar, Xiao Cheng heard a sound of something breaking. He frowned, feeling unable to watch any longer. One more kick, and Shu Fu might lose his ability to father children.

“What do you want with me?” Xiao Cheng called out before he reached them, not wanting Chu Feiyu to continue tormenting Shu Fu.

Sweating in pain, Shu Fu saw Xiao Cheng and was stunned, then quickly signaled with his eyes: “Get out of here!”

In Shu Fu’s mind, Xiao Cheng’s arrival would only mean another victim. What use could he be? No one could outfight this female thug.

Xiao Cheng gave Shu Fu a reassuring look.

He understood Shu Fu’s worry. Chu Feiyu’s cultivation was indeed impressive, and Shu Fu feared he would suffer. In the past, Xiao Cheng would have been wary of Chu Feiyu’s strength, but now things were different. Though he was still a bit behind her in cultivation, the gap was much smaller.

Chu Feiyu turned, seeing her target finally appear, and temporarily let Shu Fu go.

Recently, Chu Feiyu had been searching for Xiao Cheng for a long time. Her elders had warned her not to provoke him—after all, he was the only heir of the Xiao family, and if anything happened, the Xiao family would not take it lightly.

She had always disliked Xiao Cheng for treating women as toys and tried to restrain her temper to avoid conflict. But just after the semester started, Xiao Cheng had drugged her roommate… The result: her roommate now spent every day in tears.

By then, Chu Feiyu had reached the limit of her patience. She swore to find Xiao Cheng and destroy his “tools of the crime.”

“You actually dare to show up?” Chu Feiyu sneered coldly. She had expected Xiao Cheng to hide from her, but here he was, appearing before her.

In her eyes, Xiao Cheng was nothing but a useless scion. He claimed to come from a hidden cultivation family but showed no hint of ability—a complete coward. If not for the shelter of his ancestors, he might have been beaten to death already.

Xiao Cheng had to admit, Chu Feiyu was beautiful. Her beauty was not gentle or delicate, but a refreshing, heroic charm. Yet her looks had nothing to do with him. Hearing her words, he found it hard to follow her logic. Wasn’t she looking for him? Now that he appeared, she questioned why he dared to show up.

Was he supposed to hide if she sought him? Was it abnormal for him to appear? What kind of nonsense logic was that?

“What do you want with me?” Xiao Cheng asked again.

Chu Feiyu had assumed that upon seeing her, Xiao Cheng would react like a mouse seeing a cat. Instead, he showed no fear and bluntly asked her purpose.

“You! You know exactly what you did to my roommate—don’t pretend to be confused!” Chu Feiyu accused angrily.

It took Xiao Cheng a moment to recall what he’d done. It seemed he really had done such a thing. He knew it was wrong, but what was done was done—an established fact. It was not for others to judge.

If the victim herself came, perhaps he would apologize and try to make amends, but Chu Feiyu had no such right.

“Yes, I did it. But what does that have to do with you?” Xiao Cheng replied.

Shu Fu, lying on the grass, watched and gave Xiao Cheng a secret thumbs-up. Probably only Xiao Cheng, a godlike madman, would dare risk getting his balls kicked in and speak so defiantly to Chu Feiyu. Still, though it was bold, Shu Fu predicted Xiao Cheng would end up worse than himself.

“You!” Chu Feiyu was struck speechless by Xiao Cheng’s retort. Indeed, what Xiao Cheng did to her roommate had nothing to do with her directly. Still, she had to intervene—might makes right. Since Xiao Cheng wasn’t her match, she would simply beat him up.

————————————————————————
[Something came up, so the update is a bit late. Apologies!]
~