Chapter Ninety-Two: The Courtesan's Wrath

Shaken out of his daze, Shi Feng could only mutter over and over, “Damn, that was so stunning it nearly blinded me. My eyes, my poor eyes—she’s even more dazzling than that famous drifter!” Then, after a long while, Young Stallion Brother finally steadied himself and clicked his tongue in admiration. “Amazing, truly amazing. That woman’s presence and aura are both so overwhelming. Damn, when she was standing here just now, I actually ignored every other girl completely!”

It was not strange at all. When Luo Chen had first met her in the Forest of Fear, he too had been utterly astonished by her beauty. By now, however, he had grown used to it. What puzzled him was that the girl seemed to bear him a deep hostility. He asked Shi Feng, “Hey, do you get the feeling she’s hostile toward me?”

“Yeah. The look she gave you was downright murderous. By the way, beast, what were you saying earlier about the Forest of Fear? Don’t tell me you know her?”

“We’ve crossed paths once, that’s all. But that woman is a bandit,” Luo Chen said, thinking of the crystal core of the Armored Dragon and feeling a stab of pain. “I had already set a trap and lured in a level-five demon beast. It had already entered the kill zone, and then that woman suddenly appeared. She didn’t care a bit for a hunter’s rules and just killed it. If it hadn’t dropped a crystal core, fine—but the damned thing actually did. I nearly died of anger!”

As Luo Chen said this, he beat his chest in fury, his heart practically bleeding with resentment.

Shi Feng sympathized. “That really is no different from robbing you.”

Luo Chen said gloomily, “It was robbery, pure and simple, no difference at all! But honestly, her skills are impressive. She moved at high speed like a ghost, not making the slightest sound. Only when she got right behind that level-five demon beast was she discovered, and with one soft palm strike she finished it off. I’m not exaggerating—her strength is probably at least one tier above yours!”

Shi Feng nodded. “I believe it. She really is formidable. She even appeared behind us just now and we didn’t notice a thing. Still, if it’s as you say, then it should be you who hates her, not the other way around. Did you and she have any other grudge?”

Luo Chen shook his head. “No. I only met her that once. What grudge could there be? Besides, after she took the crystal core, I didn’t dare say a word. I could only swallow my anger.”

“That is strange,” Shi Feng said. He knew Luo Chen’s character well enough to know he did not make enemies lightly, and he could not think of any other reason. “In any case, that woman is definitely a beauty among beauties. Is she a student from our academy?”

The attention of the other boys on the path had also shifted in unison to the girl. She was like a magnet, drawing countless gazes and thoughts toward her. Only after her figure had disappeared into the distance did everyone awaken from their daze and burst into discussion.

“Who was that stunning beauty? How come I’ve never seen her before?”

“Maybe she came to the academy looking for someone?”

“Heh, you all don’t know? That’s Zhuo Yuqing, the newly announced number-one beauty on the semester ranking. She’s the top beauty in our academy!”

“What? That mysterious number-one beauty who only just came to the academy a few days ago?”

“Wow, she really is gorgeous. That kind of bearing is unmatched. I’m done for—after seeing her, every other girl seems dull, and life has lost all pleasure for me...”

“...”

After hearing the nearby students, Luo Chen and Shi Feng finally understood: that girl was, in fact, the “legendary” campus beauty, Zhuo Yuqing.

Shi Feng slapped his palm and said, “Damn, I should have guessed it was her. Who else could have such overwhelming charm besides Zhuo Yuqing?”

Luo Chen laughed. “What, Birdman, even you’re moved?”

“Moved my ass!” Shi Feng said with absolute conviction. “Didn’t you see how monstrous that woman is? If I were enchanted by her, I’d probably be left with no bones at all! Hmph, so what if she’s the campus beauty? Even if one tree could be exchanged for an entire forest, kid, do you think I’m stupid?”

Luo Chen could not argue against Shi Feng’s peculiar theory of trees and forests. Their outlooks were utterly different. What he could not understand was why Zhuo Yuqing seemed to bear him such deep, almost mortal hatred.

Of course, Luo Chen did not know the reason.

Because Zhuo Yuqing was the very “little bitch” he had just been talking about.

Their first encounter had taken place in the Forest of Fear, though not in Miracle City but in the Forest of Fear outside Sloan City. At that time, Zhuo Yuqing had only just arrived on the Canglan Continent.

While crossing the Forest of Fear, she encountered a demon beast. During the fight, Zhuo Yuqing judged that the beast’s strength was only around level seven. With her own level-seven spiritual cultivation, her unique inner method, and a whole arsenal of exquisite combat techniques, she had nothing to fear. Coincidentally, her monthly period had just arrived that day, and on top of that she had some vexing troubles on her mind, so she was basically no different from a barrel of gunpowder. The beast’s harassment was like a fuse, and she was so infuriated she lashed out viciously, tormenting it brutally.

Who could have known that the beast was actually a rare rage-type shapeshifter? After being toyed with by Zhuo Yuqing, it was driven mad with anger, transformed, and in an instant rose two levels. With its powerful spiritual assault as well, it was no longer something Zhuo Yuqing could handle. She could only flee in panic. Yet the shapeshifting beast’s speed surged; even with marvelous movement arts like the Ripple Step, Zhuo Yuqing could not shake it off. It chased her all the way to the edge of the forest, leaving her in utter disarray.

Then Zhuo Yuqing heard the sounds of battle and realized there were others nearby. Only then did she form a plan to escape by drawing the beast toward whoever was fighting. Of course, she felt somewhat embarrassed to do something so despicable, so before acting she tore off a strip of cloth and covered her face. After that, everything unfolded one after another. Thanks to Zhuo Yuqing, Luo Chen was made the scapegoat, but he also benefited from disaster, receiving Nicole’s help.

After that second encounter in the forest, Zhuo Yuqing had been unable to understand why that foolish boy carried an aura similar to that of the Celestial Ones.

Perhaps many people could not perceive such an aura, but Zhuo Yuqing was different. She had seen more Celestial Ones with her own eyes than many people in this world had even heard of, and she saw them every day. She was far too familiar with that presence.

And yet, how old was this boy? Even if he had begun cultivating in his mother’s womb, he still could not possibly be one of the Celestial Ones. If he were, would he have needed to lie in ambush and hunt in the Forest of Fear that day? Ridiculous.

Although Luo Chen’s Celestial-like aura had nothing whatsoever to do with Zhuo Yuqing, women were always curious by nature. In the past few days, she had found herself increasingly troubled by the matter. Then, when she saw Luo Chen a third time at the Blue Emperor Academy, she quietly used the Ripple Step to follow behind the two of them without anyone noticing, hoping to uncover something. Instead, she overheard those words that nearly made her lungs explode.

“Little bitch” this and “little bitch” that was bad enough, but that damned fool had actually dared to speak of treating her that way. Even if it was only imagination, imagination was not allowed either!

Who would dare lay a hand on Zhuo Yuqing’s backside? And he had even imagined stripping off all her clothes, whipping her with a leather crop, then dripping candle wax on her until she was tossed between life and death, life and death and back again! And if she screamed, he would stuff her mouth with underwear that had not been washed for several days!

At that moment, Zhuo Yuqing felt rage surge straight to her forehead. She nearly wanted to slap Luo Chen flat like a toad, but knowing full well that she was in the wrong, she could only force herself to endure.

After walking some distance away, the more Zhuo Yuqing thought about it, the less she could swallow the insult. The whip and the candles kept spinning through her mind. Her mood then was much the same as it had been that day in the Forest of Fear, when her period had come and the demon beast had still insisted on harassing her.

Detestable, utterly detestable. That perverted fool of a boy—she would certainly make him pay, and let him know the miserable consequences of offending her!

Just now, she seemed to have heard someone say that the fool’s name was Luo Chen. Very well—she would remember that name.