Chapter 018: Where Temptation and Danger Coexist

Back in the classroom, Lin Feng quietly pulled the manual out of his desk drawer and flipped it open — only to feel like crying.

Mission: Identify the color of Bai Xuewu's bra. Mission Rank: Grade-B. Mission Reward: 5 Peach Blossom Points. Mission Status: In Progress.

Judging from the look Bai Xuewu had given him earlier, Lin Feng had absolutely no doubt about the resentment she harbored. Had he not genuinely killed that old man and saved both her and Bai Yichen's lives, Bai Xuewu probably would have skewered him like a candied hawthorn with her sword before drawing her last breath.

The reason Bai Xuewu hadn't come after him afterward was most likely out of gratitude for saving her life. He had saved Bai Xuewu and Bai Yichen, and in exchange he'd kissed Bai Xuewu's chest — so they were even. But to go up to Bai Xuewu again and tell her he wanted to see what color her bra was?

The temptation of 5 Peach Blossom Points was certainly enticing, but the mission was also extremely dangerous.

Lin Feng was under no illusion that his half-baked Iron Shirt could stand up to Bai Xuewu's razor-sharp sword.

His Iron Sand Palm had reached Mastery Perfected, but without strength and speed as a foundation, there was no way he could match Bai Xuewu. Even a big, sturdy man with no martial arts background standing still and letting Lin Feng strike him with one palm — whether that palm could actually kill him was still questionable. That old man really had died an undeserved death.

Charging in recklessly to complete the mission, Lin Feng felt the odds of being skewered like a candied hawthorn were quite high.

Lin Feng decided it was time to consider a Flanking Tactic. As long as he won Bai Yichen's heart, he would earn a large number of Peach Blossom Points as rewards. With enough Peach Blossom Points, he could learn plenty of Evasion Techniques — and by that point, the risk of completing the manual's triggered missions would be far lower.

He tucked the manual away and slumped back over his desk.

Thunder Tiger on the podium watched Lin Feng's performance with repeated shakes of his head and a cold sneer. He didn't even bother with sarcasm anymore, having concluded that Lin Feng was thoroughly beyond saving.

At noon when class let out, Lin Feng and Tian Mengqian headed to the cafeteria as usual, and spotted Bai Yichen standing alone at the entrance of the dining hall, holding a lunch box, drawing curious glances from quite a few students.

Qinglan Middle School had three cafeterias. This was the Third Cafeteria — the most affordable one — where the vast majority of students ate. Students from wealthier families generally went to the Second Cafeteria, while those born with a golden spoon dined in the First Cafeteria.

For someone like Bai Yichen, Heaven's Favored Daughter, this was her first time at the Third Cafeteria, and she was clearly waiting for someone — which immediately sparked the curiosity of many students.

"Lin Feng." Spotting him, Bai Yichen greeted him first.

Everyone had guessed the first part right — Bai Yichen was indeed waiting for someone — but no one had guessed the ending. They couldn't believe the person she was waiting for was actually Lin Feng.

Whether in family background or academic performance, Lin Feng was at the very bottom of Qinglan Middle School. Sure, he wasn't bad-looking, but there were plenty of handsome guys at Qinglan Middle School.

"Yichen." Lin Feng walked over with ease and composure.

Since Bai Yichen was the other half heaven had arranged for Lin Feng, it was only natural that he carry himself with confidence. No girl liked a creepy, awkward boy — and besides, Lin Feng was Bai Yichen's Life-Saving Benefactor, so there was really no reason to feel inferior in front of her.

Perhaps surprised that Lin Feng had dropped her surname, Bai Yichen blinked for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'd like to treat you to a meal. Would that be alright?"

"A meal is fine, but let me treat you instead."

Bai Yichen glanced over at Tian Mengqian, a look of hesitation in her eyes.

Lin Feng understood — during the meal, Bai Yichen might bring up what had happened at the cinema, and he didn't want Tian Mengqian to hear about it and worry. So he turned to Tian Mengqian and said, "Qianqian, go eat on your own."

Tian Mengqian nodded, lowered her head, and jogged into the cafeteria.

Lin Feng bought the food himself. Knowing that Bai Yichen probably wasn't used to the fare here, he didn't bother asking her preference and simply got her a little of everything.

"About what happened at the cinema the other day — thank you." Bai Yichen ate slowly, chewing each bite carefully, though without coming across as sluggish.

"Ha, I was just your Shield. When shielding is called for, I don't hesitate." He felt a wave of relief seeing that Bai Yichen held no grudge against him — he'd been worried beforehand that Bai Xuewu might have told her about the kiss.

"How is it that you know Virgin Kung Fu?"

Lin Feng hadn't actually practiced any Virgin Kung Fu. However, Virgin Kung Fu, the Golden Bell Shield, and the Iron Shirt were all External Hardening Kung Fu. Seeing that Lin Feng's skin didn't look like that of someone who'd practiced the Golden Bell Shield or Iron Shirt, Bai Yichen had mistakenly assumed he'd trained in Virgin Kung Fu. There was no way for Lin Feng to explain this, so he could only go along with the misunderstanding.

He smiled and said, "I came across a book and just trained casually."

"To be self-taught to that level is truly impressive. Still, your Virgin Kung Fu is far from reaching the stage of Great Mastery — aren't you worried about the consequences?" As she said this, a glint of mischief flickered in Bai Yichen's eyes. "From what I know, throughout history, almost no one has ever managed to bring Virgin Kung Fu to Great Mastery."

Reminded by Bai Yichen, Lin Feng recalled that Virgin Kung Fu was an extraordinarily advanced form of External Hardening Kung Fu — far superior to the Iron Shirt. Having mastered the upper half of the Iron Shirt was probably only the very beginning of Virgin Kung Fu, and one could not break one's virgin body before completing it — once one's virginity was lost, all cultivated power would dissipate.

"Ha, I didn't know before. By the time I found out, I'd already started training."

Bai Yichen picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and said, "Besides thanking you, I have another matter to ask for your help with. I'd like to hire you as my Part-Time Bodyguard on campus. Would you be willing?"

Being Bai Yichen's Part-Time Bodyguard would mean spending far more time with her — it was exactly the kind of opportunity he'd been hoping for. But Lin Feng knew his own limits clearly. The fact that Bai Yichen was asking him to be her bodyguard meant the danger she faced had not yet passed. Unfortunately, he was not as formidable as she imagined, and rashly agreeing would not only put himself at risk but might endanger Bai Yichen as well.

He shook his head. "I'm more than willing, but as you know, my Virgin Kung Fu has barely reached the entry level. With this little ability, being someone's bodyguard would only bring harm to both parties."

Bai Yichen regarded him calmly and said, "I always feel there's more to you than meets the eye. But I can't force you in something like this."

Lin Feng smiled and didn't say much more.

"Yichen, why are you eating here?" Wang Jun ate lunch with Bai Yichen every day at noon. Today, not finding her at the First Cafeteria, he'd heard she was at the Third Cafeteria eating with some guy, and he'd rushed over in a fluster — though his face still wore its trademark graceful smile.

Everyone at Qinglan Middle School knew Wang Jun had been pursuing Bai Yichen. Seeing him show up, the students fell quiet, eager to see what drama would unfold.

"I came here to eat with Lin Feng." Bai Yichen didn't even look up at Wang Jun.

Being ignored like this in front of so many onlookers stung Wang Jun's pride deeply. He shot a venomous glare at Lin Feng, then turned back to Bai Yichen with a carefree shrug of both hands, forcing a bitter smile. "Yichen, please — if you're going to use a Shield, at least pick a decent one. Stop joking around, ok?"

Bai Yichen was about to respond when Lin Feng stood up.

As a man, Lin Feng had his own pride. He met Wang Jun's gaze with a challenging look and said coolly, "Even if I am just a Shield, what about you? You don't even qualify to be a Shield. I genuinely don't know where your sense of superiority comes from."

Wang Jun opened his mouth, unable to find a comeback. With Bai Yichen watching, he didn't want to make a scene, so he adopted an air of being above petty squabbling and turned to Bai Yichen instead. "Yichen, if there's something you don't like about me, just tell me and I'll change it, alright?"

Bai Yichen shook her head and finally looked at Wang Jun, her voice as cool and even as ever. "It's not you who needs to change — it's me. Whatever you like about me, I'll change."

Wang Jun froze on the spot.

Most of the students in the Third Cafeteria came from working-class families and harbored some resentment toward the wealthy. Though they didn't particularly want Bai Yichen to end up with either Lin Feng or Wang Jun, watching Wang Jun get this thoroughly humiliated in public still delighted them. They leaned toward each other, whispering in low voices, their faces lit up with barely concealed excitement and satisfaction.

Wang Jun's chest heaved with rapid breaths. He shot Lin Feng one last resentful glare and turned to leave.

But before he'd gone far, Wang Jun pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and said in a low, cold voice: "I don't care what you do — I want Lin Feng in a hospital tomorrow, not in school."

Lin Feng paid no mind to Wang Jun's fury. At noon he ate his lunch; in class he slept at his desk.

A little worried that Wang Jun might send someone after him after school, and not wanting Tian Mengqian to worry, Lin Feng sent her home first and lingered at school for about ten minutes before making his way to the school gate.

At the school gate, Lin Feng didn't see Wang Jun — but he did see Bai Xuewu, dressed in a security guard uniform.

Lin Feng's heart sank.

Could Bai Xuewu be here to take revenge for that kiss?

That magnificent and decisive sword strike still sent chills down his spine whenever he thought about it.

One was a school security guard, the other a student — Lin Feng could dodge today but not forever. He had no choice but to brace himself and walk forward, though he kept his eyes averted, silently praying that Bai Xuewu wasn't waiting for him.

"Stop." The icy command shattered Lin Feng's hopes.

Lin Feng played dumb and kept walking.

"I told you to stop!" Bai Xuewu stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"Oh — I thought you were talking to someone else!" Lin Feng laughed awkwardly. "About the other day, I —"

"What happened the other day is in the past. Out of gratitude for saving Yichen, I'm willing to let it go. But if you dare breathe a word of it to anyone, I will kill you." Bai Xuewu fixed him with an icy stare. After a moment, her tone softened slightly. "Why did you refuse to be Yichen's bodyguard?"

"I'm no expert fighter." Relieved that she hadn't come to settle scores, Lin Feng exhaled.

"You've not only trained in Virgin Kung Fu, but also in Iron Sand Palm — and your Iron Sand Palm has already reached Mastery Perfected. Your only shortcoming is strength. But your real strength is more than you've been letting on, isn't it?"

"Regardless, I'm afraid this is beyond my ability to help with."

"Beyond your ability?" A cold smile played at the corners of Bai Xuewu's delicate face. "If I let you take a look at my chest or something, suddenly you'd find a way to help, wouldn't you?"