C15 Before the Day

The Revival Competition was fast approaching.

Thanks to the boost from the Red Flame Essential Insect, Lin Feng was brimming with confidence and vigor all night long.

The competition was slated for the afternoon the day after next.

Many disciples rose early for training, making it an ideal time for Body Refining.

As a result, promotions and other significant events were typically scheduled for the afternoon to ensure the disciples were at their peak mental state to engage in the competitions or activities.

The Revival Competition had fewer participants since those previously eliminated didn't have the opportunity to compete again.

Only half of the original competitors remained in the running.

That night, Lin Feng tossed and turned, restless with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

He shared his living quarters with Lee Ann, who was equally concerned for him.

Neither could sleep, so they struck up a conversation.

The Flame Beast nearby didn't want to feel left out and tried to join in.

But it was shooed away by the pair—who needs the interruption of a Divine Beast howling while they're talking?

Despite the Flame Beast's frustrated glares, it had no choice but to sulk at the sidelines.

As they talked, Lin Feng and Lee Ann reminisced about the four years they had spent together, with many bittersweet memories flooding their minds.

Four years earlier, when Lin Feng had first awakened in his new body, he endured excruciating pain he'd never felt before.

The original host had been severely beaten by Wang Meng and his cohorts, leaving him battered and bruised.

At death's door, it was Lee Ann's timely intervention, calling on Gu Changqing, that saved the host from a fatal end.

The agony that lingered in the body was beyond words.

The host had been frail, with low cultivation and a timid, gentle nature, making him a frequent target for Wang Meng's gang's torment.

Had Lee Ann not enlisted Gu Changqing's help, the host might well have been killed.

During the host's long period of unconsciousness, Lee Ann had been there, providing unwavering care.

Then, one day, the host awoke—coincidentally, on the very day Lin Feng arrived through transmigration.

When Lee Ann witnessed Lin Feng's sudden awakening, he was so overwhelmed with excitement that he was at a loss for words. He urgently called for his junior brother to fetch Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing had been deeply troubled over the past half month. The outer sect disciples under his supervision had been harming each other, and the thought of such news spreading was a blow to his dignity. He had reprimanded Wang Meng and his followers, but Wang Meng was a direct disciple of Guu Yi, which complicated matters. Gu Changqing, who shared the same master as Guu Yi, knew all too well the domineering nature of his fellow disciple, which was reflected in the behavior of his students.

Despite numerous discussions with Guu Yi about Wang Meng's conduct, Guu Yi's promises to discipline him seemed empty given his secretive actions. Wang Meng had even set his sights on Zhan Shuining, the new girl in the outer sect. Thankfully, her significant background deterred him from crossing any lines.

Upon hearing from his young disciple that Lin Feng had regained consciousness, Gu Changqing breathed a sigh of relief and hastened to see him. Lin Feng, with his unremarkable appearance and limited cultivation, shared the same plain talent as Lee Ann. Gu Changqing's greatest consolation was ensuring the safety of such disciples, allowing them to live out their days peacefully in the outer sect.

The relentless strife of the outer sect had persisted for millennia, a testament to the unchanging rule of survival of the fittest. Weakness and mediocre cultivation meant being preyed upon, with one's very life at the mercy of others. This weighed heavily on Gu Changqing's heart.

Arriving at the disciples' quarters, Gu Changqing pondered whether Lin Feng's half-month coma might have left him impaired. To his surprise, Lin Feng's gaze was not only lucid but also keen. His piercing eyes, though unsteady, did not conceal the astuteness that shone through.

Could the half-month coma have unlocked his Ren and Du meridians? Or perhaps it was a certain tendon or bone?

When Lee Ann noticed Lin Feng gazing blankly at Gu Changqing, he quickly nudged his back and urged, "Junior Brother, don't delay in paying respects to Master. Remember, when Wang Meng and his crew injured you, it was Master who came to your rescue. Without him, you might have been lost to the underworld by now."

Lin Feng immediately knelt and bowed deeply in gratitude.

Gu Changqing gently restrained him, saying, "You've only just awakened; avoid exerting yourself too much. Lie back down and rest. The important thing is that you've come around. From now on, focus on your cultivation and improving your skills."

He then ordered his disciples to prepare special meals for Lin Feng to bolster his recovery.

With that, Gu Changqing departed to attend to the myriad responsibilities awaiting him in the outer sect. Over the years, he had managed the outer sect with meticulous care, personally overseeing every detail. His duties ranged from interfacing with the Inner Sect to teaching the disciples various martial arts and mediating their disputes, down to the most mundane of daily tasks.

Gu Changqing's moments of leisure were a thing of the past.

Lin Feng was profusely thankful, while Lee Ann felt an even deeper sense of indebtedness. As an orphan taken in by Gu Changqing, Lee Ann saw him as more than a mentor—he was an uncle, a brother, and his sole pillar of support in the outer sect. Having long been marginalized and bullied by his peers, Lee Ann found a kindred spirit in Lin Feng.

When Lin Feng first arrived at the outer sect, he was a frail youth, easily overlooked and often pushed around by the senior disciples, who tasked him with menial and grueling chores. Lee Ann consistently lent a hand, and over time, their bond deepened. They shared everything, from meals to moments of joy and hardship, becoming as close as brothers. In the complex microcosm of the outer sect, they provided each other with warmth and support.

Since Lin Feng regained consciousness from his coma, he had become significantly sharper and more competent. The disciples who once relished in bullying them now refrained from confronting Lin Feng head-on, resorting instead to petty backstabbing and minor schemes.

This transformation in Lin Feng instilled a newfound sense of security in Lee Ann. Previously, Lee Ann feared Lin Feng might inadvertently offend someone, which would leave him groveling and offering apologies on Lin Feng's behalf. Now, the tables had turned; he was concerned that others might provoke Lin Feng and end up on the receiving end of his wrath, potentially leading to serious repercussions.

Lee Ann was genuinely fraught with worry. Little did he know that Lin Feng had undergone a profound inner change; the Lin Feng of old was not the Lin Feng standing before him today.

The shift in Lin Feng's demeanor brought Lee Ann both relief and anxiety. He was relieved that they were no longer at the mercy of bullies. Yet, he was anxious about the possibility of Lin Feng stirring up trouble and the daunting task of cleaning up any resulting chaos.

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