Chapter 7: Stirring up Trouble
He glanced at the envelope in my hand, a gentle smile curling his lips. “This envelope can only be opened with your own blood.”
“Blood! Fresh blood!” Oh my, so high-tech! A genetic lock, perhaps?!
“Give me your hand,” he extended his hand towards me. I looked at him nervously, and he reassured me with a tender gaze, “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt.”
I hesitated for a moment before cautiously extending my hand. He held it gently, palm facing up. Then, he let his finger touch the tip of my index finger. Instantly, a tiny smear of blood appeared, but to my surprise, I felt no pain at all. It was as if he had simply drawn a red mark on my fingertip with a red pen.
As blood droplets emerged from the wound, he was about to press my finger onto the seal of the envelope when suddenly, a figure materialized beside us, grabbing my finger and attempting to put it in their mouth! I didn’t even have time to react!
Feng Lingcan furrowed his brows and swiftly turned around, delivering a punch to the figure’s face. The figure was thrown back with a “whoosh” and went flying, raising his middle finger defiantly while suspended in mid-air. His bloodshot eyes emanated a strong sense of murderous intent.
At that very moment, Hong Ri suddenly appeared, leaping forward to catch the figure from behind, saving him from the fall. He nodded apologetically to Feng Lingcan. “I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
The figure, wearing a dark expression, glared at Feng Lingcan provocatively, still holding up his middle finger.
Feng Lingcan calmly raised a faint smile and said, “Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t bite anyone ‘randomly.'”
“I will,” Hong Ri replied as he dragged the figure away. The figure cast a sinister smile at Feng Lingcan before being taken away, as if to convey, “I’ll be back.”
Only then did I snap back to reality, utterly unaware of how these people had suddenly appeared. Just a moment ago, there was only Feng Lingcan before me, and then, out of nowhere, the figure appeared. His bloodthirsty expression was akin to that of a hungry baby spotting milk!
Subsequently, Hong Ri emerged once again, taking the figure away. I couldn’t help but feel that my safety in this place was tenuous at best.
Feng Lingcan continued to watch as Hong Ri escorted the figure out of sight before quickly turning back to me. He pressed my bleeding finger onto the seal with haste. In an instant, the envelope’s light pattern, resembling flowing clouds in a soft blue hue, glided open with a distinct “snap.”
I observed in astonishment, unable to discern whether this was cutting-edge technology or the stuff of legends.
Feng Lingcan picked up the envelope and emptied its contents, revealing a badge in his palm. The design on the badge undeniably matched the one on the black-clad man’s ring.
Feng Lingcan raised the badge, reaching towards my chest. Nervously, I awaited his next move. With unwavering focus, he gently placed it on my chest and smiled at me. “From now on, keep your distance from the light god as well.”
“Okay, okay, okay!” I nodded vigorously. “Senior! I’ll follow your lead!” When dealing with Feng Lingcan, at least he could handle whatever Fu Su and the light god were capable of. When venturing into new territory, it’s crucial to find a reliable ally, someone god-like such as Ye Liang.
“Good?”
“Hehe…” I chuckled with innocence, “Yes, I’ll be good.” Regardless, let me shamelessly play along and gather some information first.
Without delay, he returned the envelope to me, and I could sense there was something else inside. I carefully retrieved a small card that read: “Go to the Principal’s office quickly.”
“The Principal’s office?” I raised an eyebrow in confusion, putting the card away and looking at Feng Lingcan. “Senior, can you take me there?”
However, Feng Lingcan fixedly gazed at the envelope in my hand. His focused gaze seemed contemplative, as if my mention of the Principal’s office had piqued his interest. It appeared to be a rather peculiar matter.
“Senior?” I called out to him once more.
He snapped out of his thoughts and, once again, raised a kind smile. “Alright, I’ll take you.”
He led the way towards the city gate. I refrained from walking too quickly. As we approached the gate, I finally noticed two large characters inscribed on it: “Realm of Immortals.” So, this was the Immortal Realm that scoundrel Fu Su had mentioned.
Upon reaching the gate, I took slow and deliberate steps, cautiously feeling the air around me. Feng Lingcan, by my side, lowered his gaze and chuckled, finding amusement in watching me.
“Hehe.” I smiled sheepishly at him, “Don’t laugh at me, I’m just a mortal.” Confirming that there were no barriers, I confidently stepped through the gate, stretching my arms wide with delight. “Hah! It’s quite a stroke of luck for an ordinary mortal like me to be here. Aren’t I luckier than all of you?” I glanced at Feng Lingcan. After a brief moment of contemplation, he smiled and replied, “Indeed. Mortals aren’t able to come here.” His gaze lingered on me, carefully observing.
I turned my attention to the city before me and immediately felt a sense of grandeur. The ancient city was awe-inspiring!
We stood on a colossal red wooden arch bridge, spanning high above the river that flowed through the heart of the ancient city, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings.
The wide river flowed beneath the bridge, and in its midst stood statues resembling celestial beings. Though they appeared to be small boats, they glided swiftly through the water like speedboats, leaving behind trails of white foam.
These statuesque celestial beings were quite different from the traditional depictions of gods and immortals. They wore simple yet dignified standing-collar robes, their long hair flowing. They resembled the handsome men depicted in ancient-style illustrations rather than the gods portrayed in ancient paintings.
Flying cars and airships darted around the statues, and as I surveyed the scene, I noticed not only traditionally attired young men and women but also stylishly dressed students and representatives of various subcultures!
However, despite their diverse styles, they harmoniously blended with the ancient city, as if the city absorbed the essence of fashion while still maintaining its unique ancient charm.
Just like the wooden Ferris wheel in the distance, adorned with shimmering red lights, it was an intriguing sight! The perfect fusion of Chinese aesthetics and modernity gave it a remarkably trendy appearance!
“It’s time to head to the Principal’s office. You’ll have plenty of time to explore later,” Feng Lingcan kindly reminded me with a smile.
At that moment, a gust of wind swept down from the sky, lifting my long hair. I noticed a car with eyes on its exterior landing beside us, and something about it felt familiar, as if…
“Xia Xiaolan, isn’t it?” a cold voice came from the car. I quickly turned my head, stunned to see the boy sitting in the back seat! It was him!
The Ice Prince!
He coldly glanced down at me, his expression tinged with a hint of annoyance, as if even sparing a glance at me was a waste of his precious time.
“Get in the car,” he curtly commanded, the words dripping with cold authority.
“Huh?” I stood there, momentarily frozen.
“Xuan Yuanchen, what are you doing?” Feng Lingcan gently pulled me back, his eyes fixed intently on the Ice Prince.
So, the Ice Prince’s name was Xua YuanChen.
Another flicker of annoyance crossed Xuan Yuanchen’s cold gaze. “I just received a call. Xia Xiaolan is under my care now, and I will take her to the Principal’s office.”
Feng Lingcan pursed his lips and fell silent, contemplating for a moment before turning to me. “Then, you should go with him.”
Unhappily, I averted my gaze. “I don’t want to. Later on, he’ll accuse me of intentionally getting in his car.”
“Hehe…” Feng Lingcan chuckled.
“Come on, young lady, hop in,” the driver, a kindly uncle, warmly beckoned me.
“Get in the car quickly!” Xuan Yuanchen impatiently commanded, his irritation palpable. “I despise waiting for people.” The way he appeared so vexed, it seemed like he might personally toss me into the car if I didn’t comply soon.
Suddenly, I recalled Si Yino’s advice—don’t offend the Ice Prince.
Hmm! It’s best not to give him the impression that I deliberately sought his attention like a fawning girl. Fawning girls never win favor. For now, I’ll play along to quickly disappear from their sights.
Without hesitation, I opened the car door and hopped inside. The enchanted car immediately lifted off the ground, the wind whipping through my hair. I peered out and saw Feng Lingcan’s figure shrinking in the distance.
“You’ll see him again soon. Just make sure no one sees you in my car,” Xuan Yuanchen’s tone held a touch of disdain, as if having me in his car was a great embarrassment he wished to avoid.
“Tsk.” I rolled my eyes, withdrew my gaze, and looked down as the entire Realm of Immortals passed beneath us. The sight before me was simply awe-inspiring. Once you set your eyes on him, it was impossible to divert your attention from his captivating presence.
Incredible!
Majestic!
The seamless fusion of modern and ancient styles is truly captivating, exuding an aura of mystery and enchantment. This realm is undoubtedly worthy of the name ‘Xian Yu’!
Gradually, a cluster of buildings resembling old-school architecture came into view. They effortlessly blended the charm of antiquity with contemporary flair. Standing prominently was a magnificent ancient-style building in the shape of the Chinese character “回” (huí), adorned with shimmering glazed tiles and resplendent red lacquered wood. The structure stood tall and proud, with golden dragons elegantly entwining around it.
As we soared above this grand edifice, a vast and vibrant playground came into sight, accompanied by a swimming pool and sports fields. Students could be seen bustling about the campus, lending an air of liveliness.
What struck me the most were the students standing together, some in traditional attire and others in unconventional clothing, yet harmoniously blending into the scene.
Beyond the playground, there stretched a lush green park, with emerald-hued lakes and meandering bridges. Instantly, a sense of antiquity and nostalgia enveloped the surroundings. The allure of studying in such a university was overwhelming, making one reluctant to leave!
Abruptly, the magical vehicle took a sharp turn and before I could fully grasp the sight of other buildings, it landed gracefully in front of a resplendent red tower.
The tower stood with an imposing square shape, reaching into the clouds.
Its vintage crimson hue and an unusual tranquility bestowed an air of mystery and solemnity upon the tower.
The driver, a genial middle-aged man, opened the door for Xuan Yuanchen. I stepped out of the vehicle, gazing in awe at the towering structure. It seemingly pierced through the misty clouds, obscuring its apex from view.
Approaching the tower’s golden entrance gate, Xuan Yuanchen commanded with an icy tone, “Open the door.” Immediately, the golden dragons entwined on the gate began to animate. As they separated and moved to either side, the door revealed an unexpected sight—an elevator within!
Xuan Yuanchen entered, casting a cold, fleeting glance my way. “Come in,” he uttered in a nonchalant manner, sparing no words.
“Alright,” I hastened to follow him. The interior of the elevator boasted intricate wood carvings with an antiquated charm. The red patterns adorned with gilded accents lent an understated, opulent elegance to the entire space.
“Ding.” The doors closed, accompanied by a slight jolt of the elevator. Yet, contrary to expectation, there was no sensation of ascent. However, the ancient golden dragon pointer above the elevator began to rotate incessantly!
****************************
Translator’s note:
Regarding the names in the previous chapters, there might be some slight difference but they’re the same people. From now on, I’ll be sticking to one spelling and form, so there won’t be any confusion. Thanks!
