Chapter 27: Part 27 - Ye Zhiqiu
"Sorry, I didn't mean it"
Dai Mubai smiles provocatively at the Cang Hui Academy students. Seeing a battle between spirit masters about to unfold, people start running out of the inn while the innkeeper hopes they won't destroy too much.
A provoked Cang Hui Academy student walks toward the Shrek Academy students in anger. However, their teacher blocks them and looks at the Shrek Academy students.
"Which academy are you brats from?"
Dai Mubai smirks arrogantly at their teacher.
"Investigating us? You're not worthy."
Hearing Dai Mubai's response, the Cang Hui Academy teacher becomes furious.
"You insolent brat! Beat them all!"
The Cang Hui students immediately charge at the Shrek students. Just as the Shrek students prepare to stand up, Su Fan has already thrown a few shuriken attached to a steel wire. The shuriken flies around the Cang Hui students, instantly binding them together like captured criminals. The onlookers are amazed by Su Fan's shuriken technique, especially the innkeeper, who is relieved that nothing in the inn is damaged.
"Tang San, loser, fat loser, the rest is up to you."
Hearing Su Fan's words, the three of them smile, stand up, and release their martial spirits and spirit rings. They have a brief conversation with the Cang Hui Academy teacher. After introducing themselves and exchanging words, Ye Zhiqiu reveals his martial spirit—a black turtle—along with his spirit rings: white, yellow, yellow, purple, purple. Upon seeing Ye Zhiqiu's martial spirit, the three become instantly concerned. Su Fan, watching the situation with a flat expression, thinks to himself:
'It seems I miscalculated. Who would have thought a level 50th spirit master has such a low spirit power capacity similar to level 40th spirit sect. Is it because his low age spirit ring?'
When Ye Zhiqiu asks their teacher to step forward, the fat guy arrogantly refuses and mocks him. Seeing that they are about to fight, Su Fan speaks up.
"If you want to fight, do it outside. Do you want the Spirit Hall to reprimand you?"
As soon as they hear this, everyone freezes. If the Spirit Hall hears about this, the reputation damage alone would be devastating for an academy like Cang Hui. Frustrated, Ye Zhiqiu steps outside and says:
"I'll be waiting for you outside!"
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the fat guy look at Su Fan, who has calmly finished his dinner and is now looking at them.
"You seven should work together to defeat that turtle. Flender gave you this task to improve your teamwork. If you're too weak to handle it, I'll step in."
Hearing Su Fan's words irritates everyone including the girls.
"Brother Fan! You're underestimating us too much! It's just a soft turtle. How hard can it be?"
Zhu Zhuqing nods in agreement while Ning Rongrong also complained:
"Little Rabbit is right! At the very least, we can definitely beat a little turtle!"
Dai Mubai places his hand on Tang San and the fat guy's shoulders and says:
"Su Fan, don't underestimate us. We are all geniuses! Just watch how we take it down! Everyone, let's show Su Fan how we defeat that turtle!"
Excited, they all leave the room. As they walk, Tang San explains his plan and strategy to the team. Su Fan close his eye and mutters:
"Although that turtle looks weak in soul power, its basic attributes might still be around level 50. Not something to take lightly. But if they do it right, they might a chance to win."
Su Fan finishes his last glass of water when a voice from behind him speaks.
"Kid, you don't want to help them?"
"I'll step in if they need me."
Zhao Wuji sits beside him, crossing his arms.
"You seem to distance yourself from them. You let Little Rabbit work with them, but what about you?"
"I don't like teamwork. I prefer doing things alone."
"But don't you feel lonely doing everything by yourself?"
"Lonely? I'm already used to it."
Zhao Wuji sighs, stands up, and pats Su Fan's shoulder.
"Kid, one day, that loneliness will drive you insane."
He starts walking away but pauses for a moment.
"When you think they're done enough, tell the them to immediately rest. Tomorrow, we're heading to a dangerous place."
Su Fan stands there for a moment, thinking to himself:
'No need to tell me, I've already gone insane.'
After he say that to himself, The Sharingan suddenly opened then he walks to the door watching the battle between Ye Zhiqiu and the Shrek Academy students. Unlike in the original story, they manage to make Ye Zhiqiu kneel, thanks to Ning Rongrong's immediate support, though he is not entirely defeated. Seeing Su Fan arrive, Dai Mubai proudly exclaims:
"Su Fan, look! A mere turtle isn't enough to make these monsters struggle!"
His words fill the Shrek students with pride. Su Fan smiles and replies:
"That just means all of you are not weak. Nothing to be proud of. Now, you can back. The short old man told me to settle this matter."
Following Zhao Wuji's orders, they obediently return to the inn. However, Ye Zhiqiu feels humiliated.
"Wait! This isn't over!"
The Shrek students ignore him, leaving Su Fan to handle Ye Zhiqiu. But secretly, they peek from behind the inn door, curious about how Su Fan will deal with him. Su Fan stands before Ye Zhiqiu. He forms several hand seals with both hands to optimize his technique.
"Lightning Style: Chidori!"
The sound of a thousand birds echoes as lightning surges around Su Fan's hand. The lightning spreads in all directions, causing minor destruction. Cang Hui students suddenly runs and take cover when they see lightning randomly hit something while the Shrek student watch with amazement before a lightning almost hit Oscar and the others forcing them to shut the door and hide. Before Ye Zhiqiu can react to Su Fa movement, Su Fan appears in front of him and strikes his strongest defense—his stomach that protected by his martial soul.
"AHHH!!!"
Unlike when Su Fan used Chidori during the spirit beast hunt with Qian Renxue, this time, when the attack lands, electricity spreads throughout Ye Zhiqiu's body, paralyzing his nerves and knocking him unconscious without killing him. Shrek students take another peek when they stop hearing the thousands bird sound and see Ye Zhiqiu already lying on the ground. All of them show surprised expression and admiration at same time.
Su Fan turns to the Cang Hui students. Feeling his gaze, they shiver in fear. Sweat drips from their foreheads as they worry about what he might do to them. But Su Fan simply says:
"Take your teacher back."
Without another word, he walks away. Once he disappears from their sight, Canghui Students stunned while some of the students collapse in fear.
Back inside, Su Fan finds the others waiting. As usual, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong cling to his arms. Tang San and Oscar feels sad when they sees this again.
"Brother Fan, your power is amazing! You really took down that soft turtle in one hit!"
Ning Rongrong also happily add another compliment to Su Fan:
"Su Fan you're very handsome when those bad guys stunned when you look at them!"
But Oscar suddenly adds, hugging the fat guy with a frightened expression.
"Even though it was handsome, Su Fan's lightning ability is terrifying! It almost hit us too!"
Everyone instinctively nods, remembering how close they were to being electrocuted by Chidori's lightning surge. With curiousity in his eye, Tang San asks:
"Su Fan, does that technique have a name?"
"It's called Thousand Birds or Chidori because of the sound."
Dai Mubai nods approvingly.
"It does sound like Thousand bird. That name suits the technique perfectly."
As they talk, Zhao Wuji's voice suddenly echoes in their ear:
"You kids still have energy to chat? How about chatting with me instead?"
Everyone turns around to see Zhao Wuji, ready to challenge them. Dai Mubai, now nervous and quickly says:
"My body is exhausted. I'll rest first."
He vanishes immediately.
"My back is sore from using my fire wings. I think I need rest too."
The fat guy follows Dai Mubai into his room. Tang San simply nods at Zhao Wuji, and Oscar follows. The girls scatter as well back to their own dorm while Su Fan is already gone without anyone noticing.
To Be Continued...