Chapter Thirty-Eight: Conflict

The silent night lay still, interrupted only by the occasional chirping of insects. Lu Han continued his cultivation, hands forming seals as he practiced "Heavenly Frost Chill." A martial artist must forge ahead with courage, pressing forward as if rowing against the current—if one does not advance, one falls behind. Only by maintaining constant vigilance could one hope to reach higher realms.

His breathing remained steady, a faint chill emanating from his body. A thin layer of frost coated the tender grass beneath him. Every pore on his skin opened wide, greedily absorbing internal energy which he stored within himself. Lu Han opened his jet-black eyes, a flash of white frost flickering within them before disappearing.

He stretched lazily.

"What’s all that commotion over there?" he murmured.

His cultivation had been going well, but he heard the sounds of an argument nearby, not from the direction of the camp. He thought he recognized Sister Hong’s voice.

Though Sister Hong rarely spoke much, she had looked out for Lu Han these past few days. Deciding to check on her, he quietly moved toward the source of the noise, careful not to make a sound.

Lu Han slipped behind a tree.

“It’s them?” His pupils contracted.

Not far ahead stood Cao Dong and Hong Banmei.

"Cao Dong, did you call me over just to ask me this?" Hong Banmei spoke.

"Sister Hong, do you still not understand how I feel? Why else would I stay in our squad? With my talent, I could easily join another team," Cao Dong said, visibly agitated. "Ever since you saved me half a year ago, I’ve been unable to get you out of my mind…"

Before he could finish, Hong Banmei interrupted him. "Cao Dong, I’ve already made myself clear—I’ve always seen you as a younger brother."

"Brother? I don’t want to be your brother!" Cao Dong’s eyes reddened, his expression turning twisted.

"Cao Dong, with your talent, you could win the heart of any girl. Besides, my heart belongs to someone else," Hong Banmei replied calmly, experienced from more than ten years of wandering.

"Someone else? So that’s it! No wonder the way you look at Chen Jun is so strange. What’s so good about him? Is his talent better than mine? Even if he managed to break through to the ninth level of the postnatal realm, so what? At his age, I’ve already become an innate expert. He’s nothing but a worthless waste," Cao Dong snarled, eyes burning with anger.

Hong Banmei frowned slightly, her tone cooling. "Cao Dong, I don’t want to hear you speak ill of Brother Chen again. I’m tired—I’m going back to rest."

She turned to leave.

Suddenly, Cao Dong grabbed her from behind.

"Sister Hong, please give me a chance. I can give you everything you want. I’ll become an innate expert and give you a good life—we could be happy together."

"What are you doing? Let go!" Hong Banmei was caught off guard by his sudden embrace.

Cao Dong’s eyes were bloodshot as he leaned in, intending to kiss her neck…

In truth, Hong Banmei possessed the strength of the eighth level postnatal realm, but she hadn’t expected Cao Dong to act so boldly and was momentarily stunned.

"If Sister Hong already has someone she loves, why must Brother Cao force her?" Lu Han sighed softly and stepped out from behind the tree. He couldn’t stand by and watch, not after Sister Hong’s kindness to him these past days.

Cao Dong hesitated at the sight of Lu Han approaching. Hong Banmei quickly moved to stand beside Lu Han.

"You brat, what business is it of yours? If you know what’s good for you, get lost and pretend you saw nothing. Do you hear me?" Cao Dong said coldly.

"If you and Sister Hong were mutually willing, I would not interfere. But it seems you’ve crossed the line," Lu Han replied calmly.

"Where do you get the confidence to meddle in my affairs? Let me teach you a lesson—you shouldn’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong," Cao Dong declared, throwing a punch at Lu Han.

His fist, charged with internal energy and force, sped toward Lu Han.

It all happened too quickly for Hong Banmei to react.

"Cao Dong, wait—" she began, but—

Bang!

Lu Han blocked Cao Dong’s punch with his palm; at the moment fist met palm, their clothes billowed and internal energy whirled fiercely around them.

"What’s going on here?" Chen Jun arrived, worried after seeing Hong Banmei and Cao Dong absent from camp for so long. He had just reached them when the confrontation occurred.

The two split apart—Cao Dong staggered back four steps, Lu Han two. The difference in strength was obvious.

"They were just sparring, nothing to worry about," Hong Banmei said, winking at Lu Han. Having weathered many storms, she remained composed.

Lu Han caught her signal and played along.

"Indeed, Brother Cao was showing me the power of the eighth level postnatal realm, right, Brother Cao?" Lu Han smiled lightly.

"Hmph!"

Cao Dong flicked his sleeve and stalked back to camp. His right hand, hidden within his sleeve, trembled slightly, a thin layer of frost on his arm. He had been thoroughly outmatched.

Ever since Lu Han began cultivating "Heavenly Garment," not only had his defenses improved, but his body had grown stronger. His palm strike, infused with ice and "Heavenly Frost Chill," utterly defeated Cao Dong. Had Lu Han not been carrying the Jade Sword, Cao Dong would have been humiliated on the spot. Carrying the Jade Sword required Lu Han to constantly channel internal energy around it—otherwise, even he would suffer frostbite over time.

According to Old Man Ling, only when Lu Han reached the rank of Mystic Lord would he be immune to the sword’s icy aura.

Chen Jun sensed something was amiss but couldn’t put his finger on it, so he let it go.

As they walked ahead, Hong Banmei whispered to Lu Han, "Lu Han, don’t speak of this. Just help Sister Hong keep it secret."

"I understand, Sister Hong." Since she didn’t wish to pursue the matter, Lu Han could only agree.

He continued his night watch. The rest of the night passed quietly.

"After a night of cultivation, I feel more energetic!" Lu Han clenched his fist and stretched, the sounds of bones crackling echoing from within.

"I feel like I’m close to breaking through to the eighth level postnatal realm," he said with satisfaction.

Since breaking into the seventh level, countless battles and the practice of "Heavenly Frost Chill," a mid-tier profound technique, had accelerated his progress. Over these days, he had nearly reached the peak of the seventh level.

"Boy, what are you so pleased about? That mysterious cold pearl granted you five parts of cold attribute, your talent is already above average, you have a solid cultivation method, and you have me as your master. Yet you still haven’t broken through—don’t claim to be my disciple, you’d only embarrass me!" Old Man Ling scolded, frustrated.

Lu Han’s smugness faded instantly, his face falling.

"I want to say I’m your disciple, but you won’t even reveal your name," Lu Han muttered.

Thunk!

Another knock on the head.

"Brat, what are you mumbling about? Go join the others."

"Old Man Ling! I’ll tell you this: just wait until I can beat you—then I’ll take your beard and use it as a broom!" Lu Han rubbed his head and hurried away, knowing another knock was inevitable if he stayed.

Watching Lu Han depart, Old Man Ling nodded with a smile. In truth, Lu Han’s cultivation speed was not slow.

Ling himself was conflicted—should he tell Lu Han everything? He feared that knowing too much would burden the boy, and with his current condition, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.

"Ah, Lu Han, it’s not that I don’t want you to know—what master wouldn’t want their disciple to know their name? It’s just…" Helplessness crossed Old Man Ling’s face.

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