111 Chapter 110: The Green Dragon’s True Nature (1/2)

”Fuck you!” Li Chun Long spat. I merely pushed up my glasses with my other hand and pressed my right sword more deeply against his throat.

”Do you surrender?”

Li Chun Long glared at me defiantly, but realizing that he was at my complete mercy, he didn't do anything stupid.

”…I surrender,” he snarled resentfully. I watched cautiously as he eyed his Sacred Dragon Sword, but when he did nothing to pick it up I relaxed a fraction. Not totally, of course. Just a tiny fraction. Obviously I kept my sword near his neck.

”The match is over!” Teacher Cai declared, his voice booming over the speakers. ”The winner is Fei Wu!”

There was muffled applause from behind the soundproof window. Unlike the time with Feng Tian Yong, there weren't many girls cheering for Li Chun Long. That was understandable – he had a crush on Qing Xin Xia, and probably wasn't as handsome as Feng Tian Yong, so it would be difficult for a female fan club to form around him.

At least we both had friends or sect mates who would cheer for us. Now that Teacher Cai had declared the match my victory, I could finally relax. Withdrawing my sword, I sheathed both of them and turned away.

”Hmph!”

”!!!!”

Before I could react, Li Chun Long snatched up his Sacred Dragon Sword and stabbed me from behind. It was only my instincts that saved me, but even so I was not able to completely dodge his attack. His blade pierced my lung and exited through my chest, causing me to stagger as excruciating pain overwhelmed me. I clutched at my chest, blood dribbling down my mouth and pouring profusely from the wound.

”Kuh!”

Falling to my knees, I just barely managed to duck under a swing from Li Chun Long's Sacred Dragon Sword. However, he didn't plan on letting it end there. Grounding his foot against the floor, he halted the momentum of his sword before mercilessly slashing it downward.

I tried to roll away, but knew I wouldn't be able to get away in time. Knew I wouldn't be able to draw my swords in time. I had made a terrible mistake, thinking that Li Chun Long would abide by the rules and stay true to the code of honor ingrained into the students by the teachers and principal of Wu Ling Academy.

Thankfully, with my footwork techniques, I should be just able to avoid a fatal blow. That wouldn't change the fact that I would inevitably receive a severe injury, but even so it was much better than losing my life…

Clang!

”!”

”!!”

Both of us froze in shock when we saw Teacher Cai standing between us. He had caught Li Chun Long's Sacred Dragon Sword with nothing more than two fingers. Unarmored fingers, unequipped with anything, and he caught Li Chun Long's blade cleanly.

”I believe the match is over and you've already surrendered,” he said. His tone was so cold I almost felt as if I would freeze to death. Li Chun Long had turned completely pale with fright. Ignoring both of our reactions, Teacher Cai continued as if nothing had happened. ”Attacking your opponent after the end of a match is against the rules.”

”So what?” Li Chun Long sneered, defiant again after a few seconds of getting used to Teacher Cai's intimidating presence. ”I'm going into isolation training after this anyway. Getting my punishment lengthened is no big deal.”

So that was why he was so bold. Li Chun Long had already resigned himself to facing six months of isolation training. He wanted to deliver a final cheap shot before his imprisonment, because he knew the worst that could happen was an extension of his already detemined punishment. A sentence that was imposed upon him because of me ratting him out. That was why he was so determined to have his revenge before he went into the isolation chamber.

”You'll regret letting me leave,” he growled at me. I merely stared at him while clutching my chest.

”No,” I replied with a faint smile. ”But I'll be prepared next time.”

That wasn't to say I would let him live. Now that Teacher Cai had intervened, I had lost any justification to kill him. However, the next time he attacked me, I would counterattack and slay him without mercy.

I was sick and tired of having to watch my back and be wary around all these bullies and murderers. Whether it was Qi Fu Ren, Ba Yun or Li Chun Long…if they attacked me, I would kill them. As simple as that.

I had no intention of suffering under the hands of a psychotic bully again.

”You had better watch out when I get out of isolation training!” Li Chun Long was yelling as he was hauled away by the school authorities. He fought against their grip and jabbed a finger in my direction. ”I'll kill you once I get out! I swear! I'll definitely kill you once I get out of isolation training!”

”Keep that up and you'll be in isolation training forever,” Teacher Cai told him coldly. He then turned to the two staff who were restraining the Green Dragon Sect successor. ”Take him away. And make sure he doesn't have his sword.”

”Yes, sir!”

I watched quietly as Li Chun Long was hauled away, screaming and kicking. That guy was someone I had to watch out for, and if I didn't take care of him, he might kill me first. I wasn't going to allow that to happen.

Withdrawing to my own thoughts, I began formulating a plan that covered several contingencies to deal with what Li Chun Long might pull when he got out.

*

”Wu! Are you all right?”

The first people I saw when l limped outside the coliseum were my friends. Tang Qi Hong, Tong Xue, Lian Rou, Ban Zhang and Zhu Jiao were all running toward me. I waved weakly at them before staggering to a stop.

”You're hurt! Badly!”

”No shit,” I replied bitterly as I clutched my chest. The bleeding had stopped after I temporarily froze my wounds, but that was no solution. I needed to seek treatment from Teacher Yi as soon as possible.

Damn, but I was really going to the infirmary too often. I was getting sick of going there whenever I got injured…though to be fair, the only reason why I would ever need to go to the infirmary in the first place was when I was injured. That said, it had been happening a lot more frequently, so I needed to find a way to fight without getting injured.

This was where being a God Mode Mary Sue protagonist like Li Fu Chen or Lin Feng would have helped a lot. They never got injured, they defeated every single opponent in just a single move (or in less than five moves), they were invincible and unbeatable, and…okay, the arrogant and overbearing parts were completely unnecessary. Never mind.

Needless to say, I envied them for the ability to never get injured in a tournament or battle. Unlike them I had to frequent the infirmary every time I fought someone, because I didn't have some cheat code that allowed me to neutralize all damage from my opponents. If only I could use Power Overwhelming or a similar cheat, but alas, this was real life.

”You should be more careful.”

Tang Qi Hong took one of my arms and supported me while Tong Xue took the other. I leaned on them gratefully and sighed.

”Yeah, I'll try.”

”Do or do not! There is no try!”

Zhu Jiao did his best impression of Master Yoda and failed terribly. Probably because no one here watched Star Wars in my original timeline and hence didn't catch the reference.

Wait a minute…then how did Zhu Jiao know about that line?! Was he from my original timeline too? or was this merely a coincidence?

As we strolled toward the infirmary, I glanced at Zhu Jiao. Not caring about whether he was from my original timeline or not (it made no difference if he was, and really, given that he was supposed to be the protagonist, I wouldn't be surprised if he was), I shot straight to the main topic.

”How are your preparations for the match against Bai Ning Xue tomorrow?”

”Hmm…good, I guess?”

”You guess?” I repeated incredulously. ”Seriously?”

”What did you expect?” Zhu Jiao replied. ”There's nothing more I can do other than show up for the match tomorrow and do my best.”

”…that's true.”

I sighed as I continued to limp forward with the help of Tong Xue and Tang Qi Hong. Before we could reach the infirmary, however…

”Wait!”

”??”

All of us turned around when we heard the familiar voice. Behind us, Qing Xin Xia ran up to our position, pausing and bending over to catch her breath as she did so. Straightening up, she clasped her hands imploringly.

”Please allow me to heal you!”

”Are you talking to me?” I asked, puzzled. Well, duh. I was the only one injured here. As I expected, Qing Xin Xia nodded.

”I apologize deeply for what First Senior Chun Long did to you.” She hesitated for a moment. ”Please know that it wasn't the will of the Green Dragon Sect. the other seniors disapprove of his actions, and I'm sure Master will punish him when he hears of this.”

”N…no need for that.” I was getting embarrassed when I heard this was turning into a big deal. I honestly didn't care. In fact, I was looking forward to Li Chun Long attempting his revenge after he got out of jail…I mean isolation training. It would give me a perfectly valid excuse to slaughter him and end his existence once and for all.

There were way too many characters in this story and I should start trimming down the roster before even I begin to forget who was who.

”A…anyway, as a sign of apology please allow me to treat your injuries.” Qing Xin Xia bowed sincerely.

Tang Qi Hong regarded her suspiciously. ”How do we know this isn't a trap?”

”I trust her,” Zhu Jiao spoke up. Qing Xin Xia smiled slightly at that, her ears going a little red. Seeing her reaction, I sighed.

”If Jiao believes Qing Xin Xia, then I will too.”

”Thank you! I swear, I won't do anything suspicious!” she took a deep breath and sent a glare in the direction where Teacher Cai and the other staff had taken Li Chun Long. ”The true nature of the Green Dragon Sect is healing! The reason why we wield the benevolent wood element is because we are healers! We do not seek to slaughter, we seek to rejuvenate! That is what Master has taught us, but First Senior Chun Long's actions have blemished our name!”

”…yeah, a lot of the other schoolmates are condemning Li Chun Long's postmatch sneak attack.” Tong Xue nodded thoughtfully. ”And I also heard them criticizing the Green Dragon Sect. you guys are taking a lot of flak because of one guy's actions.”

”That's not fair,” I grumbled.

”Nothing is fair in this world,” Ban Zhang replied sagely. Everyone had to suppress the urge to roll their eyes at his statement. Fortunately, he had a less cringe-worthy follow-up. ”We can only work with the hand that Heaven dealt us.”

”For now, let's find a place for Xin Xia to do her work,” Zhu Jiao suggested when he noticed that she was still waiting. Tang Qi Hong nodded, but she was still skeptical.

”I'll be keeping my eye on you.”

”Qi Hong,” Lian Hou reprimanded. Her tone wasn't very harsh, but she wasn't approving her best friend's lack of tact either.

”I'll be fine,” I assured Tang Qi Hong. Plastering a smile across my face, I added, ”I have you to watch over me, after all.”

”I…I'm glad you know that!” Trang Qi Hong turned around, flustered, and folded her arms. I could imagine her pouting as she went, ”hmph!”

Why the fuck was she behaving like some cliché tsundere from a Japanese anime? This was the wrong genre to begin with.

We settled down in a nearby, empty classroom. Qing Xin Xia directed me to sit at a desk before she stood in front of me and began her treatment. As before – I still recalled the day when she healed me after I fought the Spirit Tiger almost three years ago – she raised her hand and conjured a green glow of qi. Muttering an incantation under her breath, she closed her eyes and focused, channeling her innate qi into her hand and placing it on my chest.

I felt the warm qi suffuse gently into my wound, closing it up. The blood remained – unlike animation where healing was indicated by blood disappearing, such convenient things did not occur in reality. My uniform remained bloodstained, and traces of blood remained on my chest, which would only be washed away when I took a shower later. However, the torn flesh knitted together, and within seconds there was no trace of any injury, not even a scar, save for the bloodstains that colored my otherwise pale flesh red.

It wasn't just the injury that Li Chun Long dealt me in his sneak attack after the match had ended. Qing Xin Xia proceeded to heal every injury on my body, both internal and external. The numerous cuts I sustained while exchanging blows with Li Chun Long, the damage I sustained to my internal organs after we both hurled massive waves of qi at each other, even slight bruises that I received when I desperately dodged about during combat. All of them were gone in an instant.

Whatever pain I experienced earlier vanished immediately, replaced by a warm, comfortable feeling that ran soothingly across my body.

”Thanks.”

I tried to conceal my astonishment and bowed my head gratefully.

Qing Xin Xia might not be as experienced as Teacher Yi, but her healing skills were close. I dare say she was second after Teacher Yi. None of the other Green Dragon Sect disciples were as adept as her at healing.

”No, not at all,” Qing Xin Xia assured me with a faint smile. She almost collapsed from the exhaustion, something Teacher Yi wouldn't have problem with. Fortunately, Zhu Jiao was on hand to catch her. ”It's only to be expected…after all, First Senior Chun Long was the one who did this to you in the first place.”

”Even so, you're not obliged to heal me.” I bowed my head deeper. ”Thank you very much.”

I made a mental ntoe to remember this favor. Qing Xin Xia had healed me not once but twice. I ought to return her compassion in future. If this was a typical wuxia or xianxia story, I would have assmed that Qing Xin Xia was somehow in love with me. Fortunately, I wasn't deluded enough to think reality would conveniently work out in the same way. For one thing, Qing Xin Xia was in love with my friend, Zhu Jiao – the real protagonist of any wuxia or xianxia story. And for another, she was just feeling guilty for what her senior did. Furthermore, I knew from years of being her classmate what kind of person Qing Xin Xia was.

She was among the kindest, most gentle and nicest girls in class…no, even in Wu Ling Academy. She would not hesitate to help anyone, not only me.

”Are you all right?” Zhu Jiao asked, concerned, as he helped her up.

Qing Xin Xia staggered for a moment before she straightened up and nodded.

”Yeah, I'm all right. I just need a bit of rest.”

”Xin Xia used most of her qi to heal Wu,” Tang Qi Hong explained, her tone somewhat grudging. No doubt she wished she could have done more, and she felt a little guilty for doubting Qing Xin Xia. ”She's exhausted. We should take her back to the dormitory to rest.”

”Yeah, let's do that,” Lian Rou agreed.

”Thanks again,” I told Qing Xin Xia, who smiled weakly.

”I'm just glad that you're all right.”

”Yeah.”