Li Shen continue to laugh some more while Ye Fei was scowling with an ugly expression on his face.
He can’t believe Li Shen went such a roundabout way to bring up that accursed name to mock him.
‘Curse this evil child, and to think I was deep into believing his nonsense.’
Watching Li Shen down his tea whole like he was chugging back wine, he shook his head and said.
“You hold your grudges too close to your heart, aren’t you afraid they’ll inflate to encompass it?”
Slamming the tea cup onto the table, Li Shen wiped his mouth with his sleeve before saying.
“Let them! I’m someone who pays back grudges tenfold, the more you wrong me, the harsher the retaliation!”
Sitting up, his spine went as straight as a pillar leading from the deepest regions of the underworld to the highest vantage point in the nine heavens. He then spoke words that could sever nails and obliterate iron.
“I’m Li Shen! If you make yourself my enemy by hurting the ones I love you’ll face the most determined, most revenge-driven demon whose sole purpose is to take your life. No Devil in the 18 layers of the underworld, no false Gods in the Nine Heavens will block my path. All will be cut down on my path to revenge!”
Ye Fei was silent as he listened to Li Shen's words, and for a moment, for the briefest of moments, his heart shudder.
It was so brief it could have gone unnoticed, but he did notice it.
He notice for that split second that he, a Soul Transformation Realm existence, had shown fear for this smart, but weaker young man in front of him.
Ye Fei had to take a closer look at him, he had long realized he needed to throw away the preconception he had of him previously.
If not because of how his adoptive mother and Master had shown interest in him, then because of the terrifying rate at which he was influencing the Sword Pavilion and Academy as a whole.
If it wasn’t for the latter, Ye Fei would have been hesitant to allow him free reign to do such things. Thankfully, so far Li Shen had shown he meant no harm or ill intent towards the Celestial Academy.
Those disciples that left his seminar will always be Celestial Academy disciples, unlike the Seven Major Clans who were using the academy as a scooting and breeding grounds to enlarge their forces away from the eyes of the Li Royal Family.
It might be swapping out a lion for a conning fox, but at least that fox is smart enough to have and act with a disposition of discretion.
‘A Soul Transformation Realm cultivator fearing a little kid, what would become of my name if this was revealed.’
Ye Fei thought that, but as he sipped his tea, he couldn’t help but remember the jab Li Shen just pull.
Holding back his cough due to the tea going down the wrong hole, he forced a smiled and commented on Li Shen’s words just now.
“It seems disciple Shen values relationships, I take that this is you warning me of breaking future agreements?”
Li Shen’s back sagged and he laughed meekly before saying.
“Vice Headmaster, how could disciple dare do such a thing? I’m merely a Body Practitioner with a bit of Soul cultivation on the side, barely enough to be considered anything. You’re the Vice Headmaster and can be considered within the upper echelons of power on the Maple Continent with your Soul Transformation Realm cultivation. I am merely stating my one and only reverse scale in this life. But…*sighs*
"If Vice Headmaster perceives it as such, then what can I do but apologize?”
Li Shen cupped his fists.
“I apologize to Vice Headmaster!”
Ye Fei only shook his head at that.
“How can one person be so glib tongue? You’ll be the death of any swindler that comes your way”
Li Shen didn’t respond but only gave a nonchalant smile.
“And I wouldn’t say your Soul Cultivation was minor given what you’ve shown in the Hall. I called you here for that same reason.”
Ye Fei’s expression became serious.
The idle chatter was over, and now came the real conversation.
“You do realize the disaster you brought upon yourself by revealing such potential right?”
“I do, but I’d like to hear Vice Headmaster’s opinion.”
Hearing that and seeing his unchanging relaxed smile, Ye Fei was starting to get this vague feeling that Li Shen was a spring well. Hard to see its bottom, only the surface can be perceived. In other words, he seemed unfathomable.
‘What is he hiding up his sleeves that makes him so relaxed? Does his activities in the Academy have something to do with it?’
That was a thought which passed through his mind, but took a back seat for now.
“Well, first and foremost, the Major Clans including the Ming Clan, now have you on their radar.”
“If it’s in the Academy I’m not scared of them.”
Li Shen interjected.
“If it’s outside, I’m still the Second Prince. But if that fails I have a few other things.”
Ye Fei looked at Li Shen deeply before saying slowly.
“There’s the Demonic Cult as well. You might not know this, but every genius has a bounty on their heads that’s set up by the Dark Moon Assassins Guild. Their Elders won’t make a move due to the pact the two alliances' made, but there are still those from the younger generation. Take a guess, given the ability you showed that could even be helpful to Soul Transformation Realm experts, albeit with more time, what do you think the bounty on your head would be?”
Li Shen calmly listened to all of this before he sunk into contemplation.
“Very high I assume?”
He responded soon after with a simple answer.
“Not just high, dangerously high, even comparable to the Top Chosens on the rankings and even off the rankings.”
“Off the rankings?”
“Yes, people like your brother and disciple Ling Tian. Despite being closer to your generation, they're talents have moved them to be categorized in my generation, the Later Generation.”
Li Shen nodded.
He then smile and said.
“Vice Headmaster shouldn’t worry too much. I’m not stupid enough to go this long without revealing my potential only to be a fish on dry land when I do.”
Leaning back in his seat, Ye Fei release a breath before he said.
“I hope so, you might be relying on the Academy treasuring you to avoid dangers in these walls, but in the outside world, it's a completely different playing field. A dangerous one where life and death are decided in an instant. Even for someone of my level.”
Ye Fei had on a slightly gloomy expression while he said that, as if he was remembering encounters of his own he had long ago.
“Haha, I’ll take Vice Headmaster’s words to heart.”
Li Shen said that with a carefree laugh that prompted Ye Fei to release another breath.
“So, does Headmaster want me to help with your foundation?”
Ye Fei hearing this was caught off guard.
“Can you actually?”
However, he quickly caught himself.
Coughing a bit he said.
“Ah, there’s no need, my foundation is already stable as I said before, ehem.”
‘I’m already indebted to him loaning his void beast to me. If I got any more help from him I might as well just sign my soul away.’
Li Shen made tsk sound internally, feeling regretful that Ye Fei didn’t take the bait. But this is fine as well. It was best to leave people thinking his ability was only so much and needed time to develop.
More things can be planned with the situation like this.
Standing up, Li Shen said.
“Well, if that is all Vice Headmaster needs from me, then I’ll take my leave.”
Waving his hand, he then said.
“Tai, get out. I’m still mad at you.”
From the storage ring on his finger, Tai’s figure appeared but he soon started clinging to him and began wailing like a banshee on crack.
What he was wailing exactly was incomprehensible, Li Shen only made out words like “that weird man” and “strict diet.”
After prying off Tai, Li Shen patted his head and said.
“Fine, Fine. I’ll come get you after a few more days. Is that alright Vice Headmaster?”
Li Shen looked up at Ye Fei to see him nod.
After comforting Tai some more, Li Shen turned around and left the mountain to return to the evening seminar he had promised to attend.
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