The Enemy Has Arrived!

Having mooched a meal off Chen Hao, Su Yu walked toward the academy's residential quarters while digesting his food. Before the Civilization Academy examination, he wanted to pay Liu Wenyan a visit. He had been in secluded cultivation at home for the past several days and had not seen Liu Wenyan in a while; this was also a good chance to seek his teacher's advice. …… The residential quarters. Even though Liu Wenyan had stepped into the Tengkong Realm, he remained as low-key as ever, still residing in the old dormitory building. Su Yu knocked on the door. Liu Wenyan was reading on the balcony. Instead of getting up to answer, he used his willpower to swing the door open. "You did well in the morning exam." Liu Wenyan praised him as soon as he stepped inside, but then added, "Still, breaking through to Stage Nine right there at the testing ground wasn't truly necessary. Taking part in the Stage Nine assessment was even more of a gamble. Had you been injured, you might not have been able to sit for this afternoon's examination." Liu Wenyan lectured, "You must learn to make trade-offs and weigh the pros and cons. From beginning to end, the morning's War Academy examination was actually teaching all of you how to choose." Su Yu nodded. "I know, Teacher. I weighed the pros and cons this morning myself. Taking first place brings me massive benefits right now. Even if I couldn't take part in the Civilization Academy exam this afternoon, I'd actually still have a chance to take a make-up test." "..." Liu Wenyan paused, unable to find fault in that. For top students like Su Yu, there really was an opportunity for a second chance. He had clean forgotten about that. This kid... Not knowing how to respond, Liu Wenyan chuckled ruefully, exhaled, and said, "As long as you understand. If you're not preparing for this afternoon's test, what did you come to me for?" "I wanted to ask you, Teacher... if taking first place this afternoon requires exposing two divine characters, is it worth exposing them?" Liu Wenyan pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "Purely for the sake of taking first place, it's unnecessary. Look at the situation on the ground and follow your own thoughts. You are still young—don't let your spirit be broken! "I considered keeping you in check, but then I also thought—you're only eighteen after all. If you could have taken first place yet ended up suppressed by someone else, your spirit might take a hit. It wouldn't be impossible for you to fall into a slump..." Liu Wenyan said a few more words, then smiled. "Decide for yourself! If you truly can't swallow your pride and feel it's necessary, then do it! I told you to hold back a card, not to live a life of stifling frustration... "If anyone asks about the divine characters..." Liu Wenyan pondered for a moment and said, "Just say that over these past few months, I gave you five willpower texts, and you didn't learn them from reading just a single piece." Su Yu couldn't help asking, "Teacher, will they believe that?" Liu Wenyan raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't they? Do they think I can't produce willpower texts?" Old Liu grumbled displeasedly, "They are shortsighted and look down on the rest of the world! Do they think only their Civilization Academy can produce so many willpower texts? If I wanted to, writing five willpower texts in a single day wouldn't be difficult at all!" Su Yu felt his teacher was bragging, but unfortunately, he had no proof. He couldn't very well ask Liu Wenyan to write five on the spot to show him either. Since his teacher said so, he might as well treat it as true. The two chatted a bit more. As Su Yu was about to leave, he thought for a moment and said, "Teacher, everyone says the internal situation at the Civilization Academy is chaotic, and the higher-ups know it too. Why haven't they reformed it? An academy's purpose is to educate and nurture people—shouldn't the environment be kept purer?" "Reformed?" Liu Wenyan gave a half-smile. "Why reform it? That environment was created intentionally; it wasn't like that originally. Decades ago, the academy was very pure and sheltered, which only led to more deaths and fewer strong experts emerging. "Su Yu, remember this: we do not live in an era of peace, but in an age of turmoil! "In turbulent times, harsh measures are required!" Liu Wenyan said softly, "The academy is a small crucible; the myriad realms of the heavens are the true grand crucible. If one cannot even survive in the academy, surviving out in the myriad realms is out of the question. Although the Civilization Academy's environment is somewhat harsh on newcomers, it is so that you all may survive better in the future." Su Yu didn't know whether he should agree with that perspective. He had experienced too little and seen too little; for now, he wasn't qualified to pass judgment on such matters. Nodding without another word, Su Yu turned and left. …… Great Xia Civilization Academy. Bai Feng had just stepped out of the research institute, his face showing weariness from a lack of sleep as he yawned all the way. After taking a few steps, Bai Feng yawned and snapped impatiently, "Liu Hong, you idiot again. What do you want to say this time?" Not far away, Liu Hong stepped out from behind some trees and smiled. "Congratulations. That student you accepted ahead of time took first place in Nanyuan's War Academy examination." "Oh. Not bad." Bai Feng didn't take it to heart. Liu Hong smiled again. "By the way, the Civilization Academy examination is about to begin. Wu Qi's younger sister is there as well." Bai Feng ignored him. If she was there, she was there. Why tell him! "Bai Feng, I'll soon reach Tengkong Realm Stage Seven." "Showing off to me?" Bai Feng raised an eyebrow. "When I reached Stage Seven, who knows where you even were!" "..." Liu Hong wanted to curse. *You only broke into Tengkong Stage Seven a few days ago, what kind of big shot are you pretending to be!* "Bai Feng, once I reach Tengkong Stage Seven, we'll both be at the same starting line..." Liu Hong smiled. "A series of upheavals and reforms are coming to the academy soon. Truth be told, there's no irreconcilable enmity between us. How about turning swords into plowshares?" "How about no!" Bai Feng dismissed him bluntly. "I never considered you an enemy in the first place, because... you aren't worthy!" "..." Liu Hong's expression stiffened. "Are you dead set on opposing me?" "You really have no shame!" Bai Feng said, irritated. "Stop flattering yourself. I already told you that you aren't worthy!" "..." Liu Hong felt ready to explode. He wanted to beat this bastard to death, but unfortunately, he couldn't beat him right now. Gritting his teeth, Liu Hong said in annoyance, "I have zero interest in competing with you over anything—whether it's quotas, formal researcher evaluations, or even the research institute! Truth be told, I never intended to fight you for any of it!" Bai Feng looked at him in surprise. *Are you kidding me?* *If you weren't competing, why the hell have you been stirring up trouble with me every single day!* Taking a deep breath, Liu Hong said in a low voice, "Bai Feng, you're a smart man, so let's lay our cards on the table! I need to clash with you—struggling without breaking things completely. Winning more and losing less, or losing more and winning less, either is fine. But I cannot keep losing all the time! "I need to see hope of winning—no, certain people need to see that I have hope of winning!" Liu Hong continued darkly, "I need to beat you a few times. I can't keep losing, or else... my value drops, and it won't be worth their effort to support me!" Bai Feng frowned, only speaking after a long silence. "What a chaotic mess!" "It is a mess, but I have no choice," Liu Hong said in a heavy tone. "Bai Feng, my talent isn't as good as yours, so I can only make up for it through other means." "That's your business. What does that have to do with me!" Bai Feng had no desire to involve himself in such nonsense. Liu Hong took a deep breath. "Nothing to do with you? If it had nothing to do with you, do you think I'd target you? Why is it that by targeting you and beating you, I can gain more support?" "Because I'm too exceptional!" Bai Feng replied as if it were obvious, "I'm so outstanding that if you can beat me, that makes you valuable." "That's partly it, but not the main reason. The key lies in..." Liu Hong paused, then said, "...in what lies behind you—certain matters, certain things, certain people. You know it yourself; there's no need to play dumb with me." Bai Feng raised an eyebrow. "Then after telling me all this today, what exactly are you getting at?" "I want to win, but I've realized... it's too difficult!" Liu Hong took a deep breath. "That prospective student you took in has probably outlined a divine character. I originally thought this was a flaw you deliberately exposed to bait me, but now I realize it might not be. I misunderstood. "Even so, he's your student and belongs to your faction. Once he enrolls, he's bound to be targeted—targeted from the shadows. And I... am the one in the open!" Liu Hong said coldly, "You don't want your selfishness to end up killing him, do you? He's Liu Wenyan's student. If something really happens to him, do you think you can get away clean?" Bai Feng frowned. "Let's cooperate!" Liu Hong let out a breath. "I've considered this for a long time. Perhaps cooperating is the best path for both of us! Let me win a few times, give me value, and let others believe I can keep fighting you! In other words... keeping an enemy around to maintain one's own importance! "If I can keep fighting you, no other complications will arise, and the conflict can be contained between the two of us." Liu Hong said earnestly, "Let me win a few times, and I can share some of what I gain with you. All you lose is a bit of face, while gaining tangible benefits, and I get benefits as well. A mutual win!" With a sincere look, Liu Hong continued, "Until you reach the Lingyun or Shanhai Realm, if your opponent changes now, do you really think you can hold out indefinitely? Bai Feng, I'm the very reason you've been able to cultivate at peace and maintain stability. Without me, you wouldn't have had it this easy. You can't deny that!" Bai Feng felt an urge to mock him, but thinking carefully... *Damn, he actually makes some sense.* *When did this guy get so silver-tongued!* "You want to beat me? With those cheap, petty schemes of yours?" "Even petty schemes require intellect." Liu Hong didn't feel ashamed at all as he spoke again: "Next, I'll be applying to become this year's head instructor for the freshmen. I hope you won't get in my way!" "You're going to target Su Yu?" "Yes." Liu Hong admitted frankly, "He's your student, so naturally I have to target him. Even if it looks narrow-minded, if you're helpless to stop it, that proves you aren't superior to me in everything." Bai Feng stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "No problem. How about this: give me all of your salary and merit points as head instructor. On top of that, compensate me with fifty merit points every month. If you want me to play dumb, you have to offer some perks, don't you? "I need benefits, and so does my student. That way, we can cooperate properly with you. Wouldn't you say?" Bai Feng smiled sweetly. "The kid is dead broke. If you offer more benefits, we'll work with you to pull off great things! My student and I can be suppressed by you every day, no problem at all—so long as what you pay out exceeds what we'd otherwise gain... "By the way, since you guys already know he outlined a divine character, he counts as a genius. If you suppress a genius... and I really make a fuss, things won't be easy for you. Liu Hong, think it over. If you're willing, we'll join you in this grand enterprise!" Bai Feng was exceptionally agreeable. "Suppressing a mediocre hack versus suppressing a genius brings completely different results! The accomplishment is completely different, too. If you suppress a mediocre hack, who would respect you? But suppress a genius, tsk tsk... you'd be hailed as a truly capable man! "When that time comes, you'll gain even more benefits. If this kid performs brilliantly, showing off immense talent, yet suffers setbacks at your hands every single time... wouldn't you be riding high!" Bai Feng gasped in admiration, then added, "No, your plan has too big of a flaw. How about this instead: in the beginning, you can send other people to test him, only for the kid to turn the tables on them every time, leaving them battered, utterly humiliated, and looking like fools! "There's no harm without comparison! Once there's a contrast, in comes Liu Hong, putting both master and disciple in our places. Tsk tsk... incredible! That's when your value will be maximized!" The more Bai Feng thought about it, the more pleased he became. "How about that? The cost isn't even that high. Of course, prices might go up later on. After all, the kid's strength will grow, and so will mine. Targeting a Kaiyuan and a Tengkong versus targeting a Tengkong and a Lingyun—the price certainly can't be the same!" Liu Hong was somewhat dazed. *You... agreed that readily?* "Bai Feng, I'm being serious." "I'm not joking either!" Bai Feng said, puzzled, "Without pressure, where would the motivation come from? Geniuses aren't produced by sitting in secluded cultivation! I was already fretting over how to put pressure on the kid once he arrived at the academy without making him resent me... Now that you're taking over, I'm thrilled. I even offered you some advice—don't you think it's good? "When the kid can't take it anymore and cries for help, I'll step in and give you a ruthless beating. You lose, he vents his frustration, I feel great, and then you pay up! Then you go back to the people behind you and demand more good stuff because you can't suppress him anymore. Since you managed to suppress him earlier, if they give you more benefits, you'll be able to keep suppressing him, and they'll agree. That way, we can keep making a fortune indefinitely!" The more Bai Feng thought, the more excited he became. "Liu Hong, why didn't you fucking say so earlier! If you'd said so sooner, I would've staged a double act with you long ago! I've had such a headache these past few days—Teacher has disappeared, and this research institute is a gold-devouring beast, bleeding money left and right! "I was wondering what would happen to the institute and how I'd guide my student if I had to go out and earn money... Now I can just sit at home and collect cash! Remember to come find me next time something this good comes up!" "Wait, no..." Liu Hong couldn't help saying, "Don't... don't you feel something is inappropriate about this?" "Inappropriate?" Bai Feng asked in surprise, "Are you unwilling?" "No..." Liu Hong was close to a breakdown. "Being suppressed by me, don't you feel... don't you feel a little... humiliated?" "Humiliated?" Bai Feng looked at him strangely. "Liu Hong, why would I feel humiliated? The one you're suppressing is my student. I'm too busy to bother with you. Once I'm done being busy, I'll give you a proper thrashing. After I thrash you, you'll behave for a few days, giving me plenty of face and showing off my power in front of my student. Why on earth would I feel humiliated?" "You..." Liu Hong was suddenly rendered speechless. He felt that he truly might have misjudged Bai Feng. This guy's reaction was completely different from what he had expected! All these years... he had never understood Bai Feng at all! Liu Hong took a deep breath. "Since you agreed, I accept your terms. Bai Feng, once I step into the Lingyun Realm, I will have a real contest with you. Right now, I lack the ability to jump out of this circle." Bai Feng chuckled. "Lingyun? By the time you reach Lingyun... I might already be in the Shanhai Realm. Liu Hong, just be a good boy and join me in pulling off big things. Don't overthink it." Liu Hong wanted to curse. *I was clearly the one coming to propose a partnership, not me playing second fiddle to your big plans!* *Can't you tell who's running the show here, dammit!* Bai Feng paid him no heed, speaking as he walked: "Then we start counting from today. You start paying me from today onward. By the way, is the Wu family part of the faction backing you?" "No. They're outside help I traded for using the 'Strength' divine character." "Oh. Later on, lend me that divine character to study for a few days..." Liu Hong's face turned livid. "That's going too far!" "Drop the act. You let Wu Qi study it, which proves that thing isn't your real core trump card. Don't try to fool me; you definitely still have something hidden at the bottom of the chest. It's just a 'core' you deliberately put on display—would letting me take a look take a chunk out of your flesh?" Bai Feng scoffed, "You act like Wu Qi couldn't see through your little schemes. Do you really think I'd believe the 'Strength' divine character is your true trump card?" Bai Feng wore a look of utter disbelief. *Still trying to hide it? What's there to hide?* *Think you can really catch me off guard when it matters?* *In your dreams!* Liu Hong's expression shifted repeatedly. After a long moment, he nodded. "Fine!" "Good boy!" Bai Feng grinned. "By the way, that student of mine isn't simple. Remember to find someone formidable to suppress him! Are there new students from the Wan family, Xia family, or Hu family entering the academy this year? Find people like that to pressure him. Don't count on Wu Qi's sister. Wu Qi herself might have managed if she were a few years younger, but her sister... that idiot running off to Nanyuan proves her IQ is lacking. People with low IQ aren't qualified to get involved in this sort of thing; even as an enforcer, she's far too green!" The corner of Liu Hong's mouth twitched. He couldn't resist asking, "Is that Su Yu truly such a genius?" "A bit better than you, probably." Bai Feng chuckled. "It's not strictly about being a genius or not. It's that he has a bit more tenacity than you lot. I feel his personality is somewhat similar to... that bastard." "The one from the War Academy?" "Who else could it be besides that bastard?" Bai Feng's eyes flashed with hostility before he quickly smiled. "Su Yu also came from a small place. People from small places know how to endure, how to bide their time, and how to adapt to highs and lows. To them, face isn't worth much, so they aren't easily crushed. I like that kind—much better than guys like you." Liu Hong was lost in thought as Bai Feng walked off into the distance. Once Bai Feng was gone, Liu Hong's eyes flickered. Letting out a soft breath, he thought for a moment, took out his communicator, and dialed a number. "Put some pressure on him! Have that little girl from the Wu family lead the charge out front. Don't make it too obvious." When the person on the other end responded, Liu Hong hung up. Letting out a long breath, Liu Hong glanced behind him. Who knew what he was looking at, but after a long while, a faint smile appeared on his face. The human heart cannot be controlled. And geniuses... who among them would be willing to serve as a mere pawn? He, Liu Hong, was on the verge of reaching Tengkong Realm Stage Seven. Don't forget, he was the exact same age as Bai Feng. Having clashed with Bai Feng for years and lost more than he won did not make him trash. "Perhaps Bai Feng was right: only comparison brings value! Let others test the waters first. Still... I hope Bai Feng and his student won't let me down by crumbling during the testing phase." Bai Feng wanted to milk him, but truth be told, he wanted to milk Bai Feng and his student too. Without Bai Feng as a target, where else could he obtain so many good things? "His student is still too weak. Among this year's incoming freshmen, there are several absolute monsters... It'd be bad if he gets crushed. Should I... secretly support him with a few extra benefits?" Liu Hong fell into deep thought. Should he orchestrate some fortuitous encounter for that little guy, bleed a bit of resources to help him complete Character Cultivation as soon as possible, or master more divine characters?