Chapter 104: The Higher They Fly, The Harder They Fall
While the examination continued to roll, a young girl timidly walked closer to Feng Xue, "H-hello, Senior Sister Feng."
A gentle smile plastered on Feng Xue's face when she saw the shy girl came over, "Hello Xiaoyun. Here to watch the examination?"
Feeling the warm welcome, Chen Xiaoyun also broke into a smile. The truth is she was still a little bit nervous when talking with Feng Xue. However, due to Feng Xue's friendly attitude, she gradually became more relaxed.
"Y-yes. Sister Qi'er is taking the examination today, I'm here to cheer for her."
"Hoo, that girl is not so bad."
That was her honest opinion about Meng Qi. She was quite fond of her competitive spirit as she felt that they were quite similar in that aspect.
Chen Xiaoyun excitedly nodded and excitedly added, "Of course! She is the most talented person in Meng Clan."
Because she was taken care of by Third Elder, she has also had a good relationship with Meng Clan, especially Meng Qi. She was one of the people who don't ridicule her for her lack of progress in cultivation and often encouraged her and share some cultivation resources with her. Thus, they became a good friend.
"You're also not bad, maybe you're better than her to some degree," chuckled Feng Xue.
"You jest Senior Sister Feng. I can't compare with her," Chen Xiaoyun shook her head in reflex.
She never felt that she was better than Meng Qi. Maybe, because of her long stump in cultivation, she developed a little bit of inferiority complex toward her peer.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Maybe you're a bit weaker than her now, but you'll be much stronger than her in the future. You have Snowy's help after all," convinced Feng Xue.
Xiaoyun had her immortal inheritance from her ancestor. What was a little Meng Clan compared to that? She has only had a late start.
Chen Xiaoyun didn't want to continue that topic because she still thought that Meng Qi was way better than her.
Instead, she changed the topic to another matter she was curious about.
"Miss Snowy…"
As if she could read what was in Chen Xiaoyoun's mind, Feng Xue smiled at her and said, "You want to know why her talent is only showed as 3-stars talent?"
"Y-yes. I believe Miss Snowy is better than that…" said Xiaoyun with a puzzled look while her head tilted in adorable fashion.
Seeing Xiayoun's cute confused expression, Feng Xue softly laughed, "Well you're not wrong. She was just playing there."
"Hoho, quite interesting. Care to share your thought about it my adorable Junior Sister."
Feng Xue and Chen Xiayoun were startled by the sudden voice and turned their head in the direction of the voice.
They saw a pair of a handsome man and a beautiful woman with elegant demeanor who could only describe as a pair of immortal couples, walked over toward them.
"First Brother Lin, Senior Sister Zi," greeted Feng Xue cheerfully as she recognized the owner of the voice. Chen Xiaoyun, who was already timid to begin with, once again turned nervous and lowered her head behind Feng Xue's back.
"Who is this cute girl?" teased Lin Ming. He was a little bit amused by the shy girl who looks like an adorable small animal.
"You are slightly more courageous First Brother to hit a girl in front of Senior Sister Zi. Are you not afraid of getting pummelled by Senior Sister Zi?" said Feng Xue with a playful smile.
"Just kidding, just kidding. I'm only trying to be a friendly Senior Brother," said Lin Ming quickly as he felt a sharp gaze on his back.
"What is it have to do with me?" Zi Ling's face darkened and her tone a little bit sullen.
"Serves you right, First Brother," Feng Xue's unbridled laugh made Lin Ming's lips twitch in annoyance.
"This is Chen Xiayoun. Snowy and I get acquaintance with her recently," explained Feng Xue after she had enough laughing. She then looked at the shy Xiaoyun and said, "This is the First Brother of Heaven Swords Sect Lin Ming and Legacy Disciple Zi Ling, you might have heard about them before."
"G-greeting to First Brother Lin Ming and Senior Sister Zi Ling!"
Xiaoyun of course familiar with their name but because of their vast difference in status she never dreamed to be able to meet them in person. She felt really nervous right now. If not because she was afraid that she will leave a bad impression, she would have run away and escaped.
"Don't be polite in the future. You're little Xue's friend so it means that you are also our friend," said Zi Ling with a gentle tone while patting Xiaoyun's head. She always had a soft spot for a cute and shy girls like her.
"O-okay," replied Chen Xiaoyun timidly.
Lin Ming looked at Feng Xue and got back to their earlier topic, 'What's that lass up to? It's impossible that her result that low." The lass he talked about is Snowy.
"It has something to do with Xiaoyun."
Feng Xue told them about their meeting with Xiaoyun and the accident in the restaurant and finally the bet between Xian Bu Yu and Snowy. She recount the detail of what happening until now and only omitted the part about Xiaoyun's inheritance.
"The higher they fly, the more hurt it's going to be when they fall," said Feng Xue while the corner of her lips curved upwardly, making a cold smile.
"Quite scary Dao Companion you got there," Lin Ming blurted out.
Elder Yan had been complaining about eating dog food in the past week when he was in Feng Family's mansion right after he back to the sect. Lin Ming was the one he decided to be his target of venting his anger. So obviously that he knew her junior sister's ambiguous relationship with Snowy.
"She is not my Dao Companion. We… we are not at that stage yet," suddenly Feng Xue's cheek blushed.
Snowy and she had made a lot of progress in their relationship in the past month, and they somehow had got Patriarch Feng and Madam Feng's acceptance.
But, they still have not yet vowed to be a Dao Companion yet, mainly because deep in her heart, Feng Xue felt that she was still not worthy of Snowy. To be her lover was one thing, but she need to be a lot stronger if she want to spend her life with Snowy as a Dao Companion.
Of course, if Snowy knew about her thought she would tell Feng Xue that she was overthinking things. Unfortunately, they never talked about it before.
Feng Xue pouted and said, "And how can someone as cute as her be scary?"
"Cute…" Feng Xue's remarks caused Lin Ming to twitch, Zi Ling to frown, and Xiaoyun to gasp.
'You act like this and said you're not at that stage yet?' Lin Ming and Zi Ling screamed inwardly.
Xiaoyun blushed as she imagined the intimacy between Snowy and Feng Xue, 'Senior Sister Feng and Miss Snowy actually had that kind of relationship….' Meng Qi's smiling face suddenly flashing in her mind, but she quickly shook her head, dispelling the thought.
"Posing as 6th level of Qi Transformation while her real cultivation is at peak of Qi Transformation stage, isn't she a little bit shameless?"
Zi Ling commented with a displeased tone. She felt that her pure Junior Sister changed too much because of that wicked girl. So, she decided to expose her 'wickedness' to open her Junior Sister's eyes.
Contrary to her expectation, Feng Xue was beaming with a smile and spoke proudly, "Dealing with a shameless person, of course, we have to be more shameless. Someone who wanted to hurt us must face the consequences."
Zi Ling's expression turned sourer before she sighed in resignation, 'Ah Junior Sister Feng is already a lost cause.' As the saying goes, love is truly blind.
On other hand, Lin Ming slapped his thigh and happily laughed, "Good, good. I can't wait to see their face when they know they get scammed by that lass!"
However, he continued in concerned toned, "Qian Family become more and more unbridle lately. I think this will give them a good lesson. But you guys also going too far, are you not worried of Second Elder's retaliation?"
Feng Xue replied with a mysterious smile, "He won't dare. Even if he decided to move, we are confident that we will leave unscathed. And also, Snowy's next move will make him more hesitant to take action."
"Looks like you're very familiar with her thought," Lin Ming rubbed his chin and thoughtlessly comment.
"Of course, I know Snowy the best," said Feng Xue's proudly.
Lin Ming's face once again twitched, he regret that he made that comment and suddenly felt Elder Yang's pain. He took a glance at Zi Lin before sighing.
"Um…" Xiayoun seemed to had a lot of questions in her mind but before she could ask, Feng Xue smiled at her, "You'll know soon. Just wait and see."
***
In the midday, The first round finally over with more than half of the examinees was eliminated. Other than Meng Qi and the Qi Twins, there were five more people who had 4-stars talent. They came from second-rate power and loose cultivators.
"This is the second round of the examination. The more gates you passed, the higher the chances you'll get into the top 10. But remember, you could get fatally wounded the higher you climb. Every choice has the consequences, it's up to you how high your results will be," said Elder Lan.
"Does the number of stairs we passed will also put in the consideration?" a young man with burly posture, who seemed to be a body cultivator with profound grade constitution and Earth grade bloodline, threw a question to Elder Lan.
Elder Lan sized the young man named Shi Gandang with a profound look. He was one of the examinees who had 4-stars talent.
"No matter if you climb one stair or nine stairs, if you don't pass the gate, it won't be counted. Any more questions?"
Seeing that no one raised their hand, Elder Lan declared, "Let's start the second round!"