C23 Be with Me or with Him

Dusk had settled in, casting the sky in shades of dimming light. The last traces of warmth tinged the clouds with a faint glow. The setting sun, like faded blood, cast a melancholic hue over the Amethyst Woods.

"Chen Xing, he's gone too far! Why didn't you stand up for yourself?" Luo Shuining's voice was thick with indignation as they walked along the forest's grassy path. They had been fortunate enough to find a suitable cave for shelter during the night, and Xiao Juncai had tasked Chen Xing with gathering firewood for the evening.

This time, Shuining was adamant about accompanying him. Xiao Juncai had merely furrowed his brow and, with a wave of his hand, allowed her to join.

Chen Xing turned to look at Shuining, the dying light of the sun illuminating her flushed, frustrated face, which, despite her anger, was strikingly beautiful.

"If you resist, do you think he'll listen?" he asked.

"We're not at Starfall Academy; this is the Ancient Forest. If he doesn't listen, he might just get worse. And out here, there are no teachers or parents to turn to."

"But that doesn't mean we should just accept being bullied! Just because someone is strong doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. We're supposed to be a team!" Shuining stamped her foot, her gaze fierce as she looked at Chen Xing.

Chen Xing couldn't help but laugh. Had he been wrong about her? Sometimes, this girl was unexpectedly adorable.

"Class monitor, you need to understand something important. This training isn't about group performance; it's about individual effort. The final scores are tallied for each person, not the group. So, within the Ancient Forest, there are no teams."

Shuining's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can it not be about the group when we entered as one?"

"You said it yourself—we entered as a group. But consider the classes that are now down to just one or two members. It wouldn't make sense to have a group competition with such disparities."

Chen Xing looked at her pointedly. After all, she was his deskmate, and he felt compelled to offer a friendly reminder.

"Regardless, you shouldn't just..."

"Shouldn't what? Let myself be bullied?" Chen Xing's smile broadened. "I'm surprised that to you, Luo Shuining, I, Chen Xing, seem like a model student who would just accept being pushed around. That's quite an assumption."

He squinted his eyes.

"Still, this gives you a chance to pause and consider your options. Who will it be, him or me?"

"Him or you?"

A jolt ran through Luo Shuining, and her thoughts snapped back into focus. This was the Chen Xing she knew!

"What are you up to now?"

Chen Xing gave a secretive smile and went to gather firewood. Luo Shuining huffed and hurried after him, completely forgetting about the venomous insects on the ground!

...

Near the cave chosen by Chen Xing and his companions in the Amethyst Woods, two figures emerged.

It was none other than the sports teacher, Li Dayong, and the Fellbeast Studies teacher, Wang Weifeng!

"This guy, even though he's a genius, isn't he taking it too far?"

"Indeed. I used to have a bias against Chen Xing, thinking he was too arrogant. But now, my opinion has changed. In contrast, it's this genius from Starfall Academy who's acting overly arrogant!"

Both men spoke with visible anger.

"Alas, it's a shame we can't interfere with their training."

"If they make it through, we'll just have to award Chen Xing some extra points for character."

With a sigh, they too picked a spot to set up camp and sleep.

Even as mentors, they dared not wander the Amethyst Woods at night.

...

The following day, Xiao Juncai's demands intensified! He didn't just have Chen Xing clear the path; he also made him fetch water and cook, treating him like a slave!

They found three tokens, three opportunities: Serenity Grass, Ivory Fangs, and Dragon Bee Honey. Yet, Luo Shuining received only one token, and Chen Xing none. There was just one stalk of grass, one dollop of honey, and the Ivory Fangs were completely withheld from him.

"This is outrageous! Absolutely unacceptable!"

"How can someone be so utterly selfish!"

"Even though I've never attended class, we're still classmates. He's been so hardworking and dedicated. How can he be treated this way?"

The two mentors expressed their outrage from a distance.

That day, Chen Xing's injuries worsened. He looked utterly spent and had been bitten by a snake. Thankfully, the venom wasn't too potent, and with prompt treatment, he began to recover. By nightfall, he was completely drained, collapsing in the cave after preparing the meal, as if he had passed out.

Xiao Juncai's face took on a sneering light as he gave a cold glance. He strutted around Starfall Academy with arrogance, but outside, he was as docile as a dog.

He smirked dismissively, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state.

The night air was cool and still.

In the Amethyst Woods, the only sounds were the cries of unnamed creatures and the hum of insects, a backdrop to the profound silence.

Chen Xing, who had been asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Am I finally ready to start cultivating?"

He sat up, smiling softly to himself.

"The other two must have settled down for the night by now." He walked over to Xiao Juncai, picking up the storage bag from the ground. Inside were the fruits of their two-day search: White Dew Flowers, Heart Focus Grass, Ivory Demon Fangs, and Dragon Honey.

"The fruits of labor should always return to the true laborers!"

He slung the storage bag around his waist with unabashed entitlement.

Roused by the commotion, Luo Shuining's eyes snapped open. "Who's there?"

Relief washed over her when she saw Chen Xing. "Chen Xing, are you alright? What are you doing standing there? You gave me quite a fright."

"Didn't you notice? I'm obviously here to take these three Starfall Signets," he said with a mischievous grin.

Chen Xing's hand darted toward Xiao Juncai's waist, where three conspicuous, gilded Starfall Signets were fastened.

Luo Shuining gasped in shock, her skin prickling as she lunged at Chen Xing. "Have you lost your mind?"

But Chen Xing had already snatched the three Starfall Signets and was now gently pulling on Luo Shuining's outstretched hand.

Hmm... Her skin was smooth and soft, her grip tender and yielding.

Luo Shuining's heart raced, her eyes fixed on Xiao Juncai, who remained unresponsive, still deep in slumber.

"Reaching out like this, with your heart pounding so fast... It seems, class monitor, that you've ultimately chosen me. Are you ready to embark on a life on the run?"

"What life on the run? Ah!"

Before she could finish, Chen Xing's foot came crashing down on the back of Xiao Juncai's head with a forceful kick! "Bang!" Xiao Juncai's head slammed into the ground, maintaining his cross-legged posture as his rear end stuck up awkwardly.

Chen Xing's hand flipped, and suddenly he was holding a piece of firewood. It was old and rough, with a rounded yet pointed end, clearly whittled to a deliberate sharpness – it resembled a piece of crude art.

"Watch this, the Thousand-Year Kill!"

...

"Ah!!!"

The once-quiet Amethyst Woods erupted with a blood-curdling scream that shattered the silence, a sound so agonizing it pierced the heart and seeped into the bones, jolting many Starfall Academy students from their slumber in the woods. They looked toward the horizon with faces etched in terror.

"Who is that student screaming so terribly? Could they have endured some unspeakable torture before death?"

"The Amethyst Woods truly are fearsome!"

From a cave entrance, a man clad in white clothes was seen dragging a beautiful girl, sprinting out at breakneck speed, the whooshing of the wind audible under their feet.

Behind them, a bright light surged skyward! Another man in white emerged from the cave, bloodshot eyes and his garment stained with blood, giving off an unseemly appearance.

His gaze burned with fury as he fixed his eyes on the white figure ahead of him, transforming into a streak of light as he chased after him.

"Chen Xing, stop right there! I will tear you to pieces!"

But after covering only a few hundred meters, excruciating pain forced him to halt. The rustling of grass and leaves around him, drawn by the blood and commotion, was enough to make even him, a peerless genius who had reached the Guide Spirit realm, tremble with fear.

He had no choice but to beat a hasty retreat.

"Chen Xing! You wait! I, Xiao Juncai, swear to cut you down! I won't rest until I've avenged this humiliation!"

In a nearby cave, Li Dabong and Wang Weifeng rubbed their bleary eyes.

"So, has that kid Chen Xing finally lost his patience?"

"It looks like he's had enough. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't have been able to stand it either! And yet, this guy has the audacity to talk about seeking revenge. He's utterly shameless."

"It's the middle of the night in the Amethyst Woods! Who knows what tough decisions he had to make to escape under the cover of darkness. I just hope he's lucky."

The two mentors exchanged a knowing glance, silently coming to an agreement.

And as for the roaring outside, who cares? It wasn't an emergency signal, so they just pulled up their blankets and went to sleep!

...

In the Amethyst Woods, the night wind caressed Luo Shuining's face.

At first, she could barely keep pace with Chen Xing, but as they progressed, it became increasingly difficult for her. She was utterly reliant on Chen Xing's lead.

Eventually, Chen Xing simply scooped her into his arms and transformed into a streak of white light, speeding through the forest.

The Gale Technique!

This martial skill became even more potent after Chen Xing advanced to the seventh level of Body Tempering!

The moonlight was bright and clear.

The clouds had dissipated, and as Luo Shuining gazed at Chen Xing's profile bathed in moonlight, she felt an odd sensation stir within her.

It wasn't until Chen Xing landed and set her down that she snapped back to reality.

Looking around, they were inside a cave!

"Have we... have we actually made it to safety?"

Luo Shuining couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment. The Amethyst Woods, notorious for its peril and ferocity, had been traversed with such ease?

She had been so captivated by Chen Xing's moonlit visage that she hadn't fully grasped their situation. Now, reflecting on the moments spent in Chen Xing's embrace, she realized it felt like a completely different world—a peculiar sense of safety enveloped her.

"What else?"

Chen Xing shrugged.

"I've heard that the Amethyst Woods can be terrifying, especially at night. That's when many predatory Fellbeasts and venomous insects are most active, instinctively striking towards any disturbance or light source..."

Chen Xing gave her a playful wink.

"So, are you disappointed there were no Fellbeasts? There's one over there that should satisfy your curiosity."