Ever since Elder Lü taught them how to walk on water using spiritual energy, Lin Fei would hear the faint creak of the door opening before dawn each morning. It was Li Chen, who would quietly get up at that hour and head to the lakeside alone to practice.
At first, Lin Fei wanted to go with him, but Li Chen refused.
"Xiao Fei, I want to practice on my own. If you come with me, I'll get distracted." There was a rare stubbornness in his tone when he said this.
Lin Fei didn't press further. Li Chen always returned to their quarters just before class. Every time he came back, his clothes were soaked, and water weeds clung to his shoes. Yet he never spoke about how his training was going, and Lin Fei didn't ask.
And so, a week passed.
That day, after lessons ended, Lin Fei and Li Chen were about to head back to Guanlan Island when a tall figure suddenly blocked their path as they exited the lecture hall.
"Junior brothers, class just ended? You're not in a hurry, are you?" Zhao Wuji grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.
"Senior brother, we were just about to return to Guanlan Island," Lin Fei replied.
"How's your training been these days?" Zhao Wuji slung an arm over each of their shoulders as he spoke, his strength so great that Lin Fei staggered slightly.
"Pretty smooth," Lin Fei said, steadying himself, excitement in his voice. "The instructors here have taught us some water combat techniques. I can now move freely across the water just by controlling spiritual energy, without even casting a technique."
As he spoke, he instinctively glanced at Li Chen. Li Chen didn't look nearly as confident—he merely nodded slightly.
"Good, good." Zhao Wuji patted them both with loud thumps. "Come, do your senior brother a favor, will you?"
"What kind of favor?" Lin Fei asked curiously.
"Senior brother, you might as well say it directly," Li Chen said seriously.
Zhao Wuji chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Come with me."
He turned and walked off. Lin Fei and Li Chen exchanged a glance, then followed. The three of them passed through the academy corridors and arrived at a lakeside pavilion, where Lin Fei spotted Liu Xiangru and Fang Zijing already waiting.
"Haha! Junior brothers Liu and Fang, kept you waiting—I've got the team together!" Zhao Wuji called out as he waved.
Seeing Lin Fei and Li Chen, Liu and Fang both showed helpless expressions. "Junior brothers, you got dragged here by Senior Brother Zhao too?"
"Yeah, he said he needed our help. What's it about?" Lin Fei asked as he walked over.
Liu and Fang shot Zhao Wuji a look that clearly said you explain it yourself. Zhao Wuji laughed and scratched his head, not shirking responsibility.
"Junior brothers, here's the thing." He cleared his throat, putting on an unusually serious expression. "I made a bet with a friend from Yunze Academy—to see whether students from Jumu Institute are stronger, or theirs are. So I need to form a five-person team to spar with them."
"Senior brother, the one you made the bet with is probably also a fourth-year like you, right?" Li Chen frowned. "But we're only first-years. How could we possibly match them?"
Zhao Wuji waved his hands quickly like fans. "No problem, no problem! I pick my team first, then he forms his based on our strength. I originally wanted Qinghe and Huang Su—but Qinghe's still injured, and Huang… well, he wasn't interested, so I didn't bother him."
When Huang Su was mentioned, there was a trace of dissatisfaction in Zhao Wuji's tone, but he quickly smiled again.
"In that case… it's not impossible," Li Chen said thoughtfully. "What are you betting?"
Zhao Wuji flipped a silver coin between his fingers. "This."
"Just one coin?"
"Of course not!" Zhao Wuji widened his eyes. "The bet is three hundred silver coins. Loser pays."
"So much?!" Li Chen's eyes widened.
Lin Fei, less sensitive to the amount, asked, "Is that a lot?"
"Of course it is!" Li Chen counted on his fingers. "Xiao Fei, a storage belt artifact like yours costs less than a hundred silver coins. Three hundred could buy three of those—or loads of materials, clothes, and supplies."
Only then did Lin Fei realize the weight of the sum.
"Don't worry." Zhao Wuji thumped his chest. "I'll cover all three hundred myself. You don't need to pay a single coin—just come fight with me."
Li Chen turned to Liu Xiangru and Fang Zijing for their stance. The two remained tight-lipped, only mentioning that they also had a share in the three hundred coins—though Zhao Wuji had essentially dragged them into it. Fang Zijing wore the expression of someone who had boarded a pirate ship.
"Don't worry." Zhao Wuji patted their shoulders heavily. "With me here, you can't lose."
Fang Zijing grimaced. "Senior brother, you'd better hold up. Those fifty coins I put in are my living expenses for months. If you lose, I won't even have money to eat or cultivate."
"Haha! Don't say that!" Zhao Wuji laughed loudly, startling water birds from the lake. "I've got you covered."
"When's the match?" Lin Fei asked.
"The day after tomorrow at noon, on Bibo Island's training ground."
"That's the weekend," Lin Fei said.
"What, do you have chores here?" Zhao Wuji shot back. Indeed, unlike Jumu Institute, Yunze Academy had no weekend duties—they had plenty of free time.
Zhao Wuji grew serious. "This is our chance to make a name for Jumu Institute! Let's train together for two days, learn each other's techniques and strategies, and build coordination."
"Alright. Do we train here?"
"Of course not." Zhao Wuji shook his head. "We'll go to Bibo Island—get familiar with the terrain while practicing."
He walked to the lakeside, pulled a small boat out from the reeds, and the group boarded. Zhao Wuji poled them across the water toward Bibo Island.
Bibo Island lay west of Guanlan Island and served as Yunze Academy's dedicated training ground. After landing, they headed toward the center, where a raised hill held a vast bluestone platform—flat, smooth, and built specifically for combat.
The lake surrounded the platform, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of water and vegetation. The shimmering surface of the lake contrasted beautifully with the solemn arena.
By now, dusk was approaching. The setting sun bathed the platform in gold and red.
The five of them stood together, each explaining their techniques and preferred roles.
"I'm front-line main offense!" Zhao Wuji declared loudly. "Fire and earth techniques—I can tank and deal damage. Just follow my lead!"
They practiced coordination until night fell. Zhao Wuji's booming voice echoed across the island:
"Lin Fei, your vines were too early!"
"Fang Zijing, shift that fireball to the left!"
By the time the last traces of sunset faded and moonlight scattered across the lake, they finally returned to Guanlan Island, exhausted.
Before parting, Zhao Wuji lowered his voice and said seriously, "Don't tell the headmaster or the elders. And don't let Han Yue, Deng Qian, or Meng Yao find out either."
"Why?" Li Chen asked.
"In case they stop the match," Zhao Wuji said earnestly. "Then Yunze Academy will think we backed out and we'll have to pay anyway!"
The group exchanged helpless looks and shook their heads.
…
At last, Sunday arrived.
Before dawn, they set out by boat for Bibo Island. A thin mist lay over the lake, reeds rustled softly, and occasionally white egrets took flight, breaking the silence.
By the time they arrived, the Yunze Academy team was already there.
Besides their opponents, many students had gathered to watch, chatting in small groups. More arrived—some by boat, others walking across the water—until a full circle formed around the platform.
Zhao Wuji stepped forward and clasped fists with a tall student in blue-white attire. "Brother Lu Wei, here so early—couldn't sleep from nerves?"
Lu Wei smiled faintly. "Brother Wuji, I was just afraid you'd run away, so I came early to wait."
"Heh, don't worry." Zhao Wuji grinned. "We'll end this quickly and give you your time back."
The crowd burst into laughter.
Zhao Wuji gestured for Lin Fei and the others to step forward. Opposite them stood Lu Wei and his four teammates, all calm and composed.
Cheers rose from the crowd:
"Lu Wei, let's go!"
"Don't embarrass Yunze Academy!"
The two teams stepped into the center and introduced themselves.
"Jumu Institute, fourth year, Zhao Wuji—Body Tempering Realm, peak."
"Second year, Liu Xiangru—mid Foundation Establishment."
"Second year, Fang Zijing—mid Foundation Establishment."
"First year, Li Chen—early Qi Refining."
"First year, Lin Fei—early Qi Refining." Lin Fei lowered his gaze slightly, concealing his true cultivation.
Opposite them:
"Yunze Academy, fourth year, Lu Wei—Body Tempering Realm, peak."
"Second year, Pu Zhiliang—peak Foundation Establishment."
"Second year, Chang Lei—late Foundation Establishment."
"First year, Fan Jian—early Qi Refining."
"First year, Tang Zhiru—early Qi Refining."
The crowd buzzed.
"Looks like Yunze has the edge!"
"Lu Wei, just take him one-on-one and it's over!"
Zhao Wuji grinned. "Hear that? They're looking down on us."
Both sides stepped back and formed their formations.
Zhao Wuji stood at the front, hands raised slightly, spiritual light flickering at his fingertips. Lin Fei and Li Chen stood behind him to the left and right, while Fang Zijing and Liu Xiangru formed the rear—creating a triangular formation.
Opposite them, Lu Wei's team formed a crane-wing formation—Lu Wei at the front, the others spread out like wings, ready to flank.
Lu Wei raised his hand. "Brother Wuji, no referee. We fight until one side concedes?"
Zhao Wuji laughed loudly. "Just what I wanted!"
"Please."
"Please!"