Chapter 0002: The Golden Light Within

After waiting another hour, Wang Yuqing was so furious her teeth were clenched tight. Before long, Zhang Xiaofan finally moved and headed for the bathroom.

Her spirits immediately lifted. She dashed out at lightning speed, making straight for the bathroom.

"Country bumpkin, I'm taking a shower," she declared.

Zhang Xiaofan was speechless. She could have showered earlier or later, but no—she had to wait until he desperately needed the bathroom.

Fine. He could wait.

Wang Yuqing flicked on the bathroom light. Soon, the sound of running water filled the air. Through the frosted glass, Zhang Xiaofan could just make out her graceful silhouette, and found his mouth suddenly dry.

He couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

"Country bumpkin, I won't let you off so easily." Determined to drive Zhang Xiaofan away, Wang Yuqing pulled out a pair of black stockings she'd prepared in advance, soaked them, then squeezed some white shower gel onto them…

Her own cheeks flushed crimson—this felt far too wicked.

Still, if it meant she could get rid of him, what was a single stocking as a sacrifice?

A few minutes later, the water stopped. Wang Yuqing emerged in Pikachu pajamas. "What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before?"

She shot him a fierce glare, then returned to her room, watching through a crack in the door, just waiting for Zhang Xiaofan to enter the bathroom.

"Country bumpkin, you're dead meat!"

…

Zhang Xiaofan was truly desperate and hurried to the bathroom.

Fearing he'd come out too soon, Wang Yuqing immediately stationed herself outside the bathroom door.

"Hurry up, my stomach hurts," she called, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaofan, oblivious to the stocking trap she’d set, continued his business. Even if he’d seen it, he probably wouldn’t have guessed…

Two minutes later, Zhang Xiaofan came out.

Wang Yuqing rushed in, and soon after came a loud accusation: "Zhang Xiaofan, I never thought you were so perverted!"

She stormed out holding the black stockings in her hand.

"Mom! Come see what this country bumpkin has done!"

She banged on Aunt Yun’s door so hard it immediately woke her.

"What’s going on?" Aunt Yun was just as bewildered as Zhang Xiaofan.

"Mom, look! He… he actually took my stockings and did those filthy things!" Wang Yuqing’s face was bright red as she spoke.

"This…" Aunt Yun’s expression darkened as she turned to Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan, now realizing what Wang Yuqing was insinuating, felt utterly mortified. He never imagined she could conjure up such a scheme.

"I didn't do it," he said seriously.

"Still trying to deny it? You were the only one in the bathroom! Who else could it be? You’re disgusting!" Wang Yuqing was agitated. "Mom, we can’t keep such a pervert in the house. Who knows—one day, he might… he might do something to your daughter…"

"Don’t worry, I would never be interested in you. You’re just a kid…still so inexperienced…" Zhang Xiaofan glanced at her chest and muttered, his words only audible to Wang Yuqing.

Heavens—how could he be so shameless?

Wang Yuqing was speechless. She was obviously well-endowed, yet he dared say she was flat—was he blind?

Aunt Yun, meanwhile, inspected the white substance on the stockings, her face flushed as she took a sniff. At her age, she could easily tell real from fake.

"This is just shower gel…" Aunt Yun sighed, exasperated by her daughter’s antics.

With her ruse exposed, Wang Yuqing fell silent and made to return to her room—she was still somewhat afraid of her mother’s temper.

"Miss, even if you don’t welcome me, you didn’t need to go to such lengths. If you want me to leave, just tell me; I will," Zhang Xiaofan said, glancing at Wang Yuqing. This girl was something else, so dramatic…

"Country bumpkin, I’ve just been scolded and you’re adding fuel to the fire. What’s your problem?" Wang Yuqing yelled.

"Can you keep quiet for once? You think you’re in the right?" Aunt Yun reprimanded her softly. "No pocket money for the month—go to bed."

"Mom…you’re siding with an outsider?" Wang Yuqing pleaded, full of grievance. No pocket money for a month—how would she survive?

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan felt a pang in his heart. Yes, he was just an outsider.

He couldn’t help but think of Old Man Qingyun. Though he’d been strict, life on the mountain had been happy.

Still, Zhang Xiaofan’s temperament wasn’t so fragile as to be chased away by a girl.

He’d survived fire and blade—what did he have to fear from a mere girl?

If she wanted him gone, she’d have to try harder.

Wang Yuqing found him even more detestable, blaming him for her lost allowance.

The next day, Aunt Yun left early, and Wang Yuqing went off to school, leaving Zhang Xiaofan alone at home.

With nothing to do, he sat cross-legged in the living room, palms pressed together, silently reciting his cultivation chant.

The technique Zhang Xiaofan practiced had no name. The old man claimed he’d found it in ancient ruins on Kunlun Mountain, though it was incomplete. Even so, with this fragmentary technique, Zhang Xiaofan had reached the second level of Martial Cultivation—the Spirit Awakening Realm.

Even in this age of advanced technology, many still cultivated, including reclusive families and ancient sects.

According to the old man, Martial Cultivation consisted of three realms: Transcendence, Spirit Awakening, and Void Shattering. Whether there were further stages beyond, Old Man Qingyun didn’t know.

Martial artists famed for their inner strength were generally at the Spirit Awakening level, their so-called inner power actually a form of spiritual energy developed through years of practice.

The Transcendence Realm meant one’s physical body surpassed normal limits, making them impervious to swords and blades. Spirit Awakening, meanwhile, granted the ability to harness spiritual power for attacks.

The gap between these two realms was vast.

Zhang Xiaofan didn’t know how powerful the Void Shattering Realm was, but defeating someone at the Spirit Awakening level was said to be effortless.

He had lingered at the early stage of Spirit Awakening for two years, unable to break through. The old man had tried countless times to refine a "Spirit Gathering Pill," but always failed.

With such a pill, the old man said, advancing to mid-Spirit Awakening would be easy.

His half-baked alchemy skills came from the same Kunlun ruins.

All these secrets, the old man had passed on to Zhang Xiaofan without reservation.

Zhang Xiaofan didn’t know if he’d ever manage to make a Spirit Gathering Pill, but he still wanted to try if the chance arose.

Until then, his only option was to keep cultivating as always.

As he practiced, faint traces of spiritual energy gathered around him. But compared to Kunlun Mountain, the city’s energy was sorely lacking.

The gains from cultivation were minimal.

Still, Zhang Xiaofan never gave up. Even the smallest progress was better than none.

Once he entered a meditative state, each practice session left him oblivious to the world—his mind clear and empty.

Gradually, a golden light emerged from his brow, circulating through his meridians as he cultivated.

After a single cycle, his spiritual energy increased dramatically—equal to six months of hard cultivation.

Moreover, a black, foul-smelling substance seeped from his skin, like toothpaste being squeezed out. Zhang Xiaofan was entirely unaware, and he remained in meditation for seven or eight hours. When he finally awoke, it was already five in the afternoon.

"My cultivation has improved a lot," he murmured, sensing the spiritual energy within.

"What is that stench?"

He noticed the black grime on his body and the pungent odor, then hurried off for a shower.

"I've already undergone body purification once—why would it happen again?" Zhang Xiaofan was puzzled. No matter how he thought, he couldn’t figure it out. The golden light had vanished into his brow by the end of his practice, unnoticed by him.

"Maybe it's because of the cultivation method…" he reasoned with himself.

"Xiaofan, we’re back!"

After a while, Aunt Yun’s cheerful voice echoed through the house.

"Xiaofan, your enrollment is all settled. Tomorrow you can go to school with Yuqing," she said after drinking a glass of water, smiling.

"Hmph, country bumpkin, my mom spent twenty thousand yuan just so you could go to school. How do you plan to repay her?" Wang Yuqing was still unfriendly.

"Thank you, Aunt Yun," Zhang Xiaofan replied.

"Yuqing, enough. Grandmaster Qingyun once saved your father’s life, and didn’t take a penny. Compared to that, what does twenty thousand matter?" Aunt Yun said promptly.

"Hmph, that was her master, not him. He’s just a little scam artist. Mom, stop defending him," Wang Yuqing retorted.

Zhang Xiaofan didn’t argue. Aunt Yun knew her daughter would resist him no matter what.

"Country bumpkin, let me make this clear: when we get to school, don’t you dare say you know me. I’d die of embarrassment," Wang Yuqing warned as soon as her mother went to cook.

"Don’t worry, I’m more embarrassed by you. Your chest is so flat…" Zhang Xiaofan muttered, "Too small…"

"Pervert! Scoundrel!" Wang Yuqing lunged at him, but she couldn’t even touch his sleeve. Furious, her chest heaved with anger.

Zhang Xiaofan pretended to be serious. "Scoundrel is a sacred title. Thank you for the compliment. I’m proud to be a scoundrel."

"You! Shameless!" Wang Yuqing was at her wit’s end. He really was a scam artist—her instincts were right. He put on a straight face in front of her mother, but now his true colors showed.

Heavens, am I doomed to live with this shameless rogue forever?

"Trying to challenge me? You’re still too green. What, not convinced? Come bite me…" Zhang Xiaofan raised his brows to provoke her.

"Zhang Xiaofan!"

Wang Yuqing ground her teeth, pinching the flesh on his thigh so hard she looked ready to devour him.

"If you don’t let go, I’ll call Aunt Yun," Zhang Xiaofan said, grinning without a trace of shame.

"Fine! You’re ruthless! I refuse to believe I can’t handle you," Wang Yuqing fumed. Heaven, strike this wretch down!

"Yuqing, we have no feud. Let’s call it even. Don’t target me and I won’t target you. Honestly, your little schemes are hardly worth mentioning."

"Impossible! I must drive this pervert out!"

"So, there’s no room for negotiation?"

"None!"

"Well then, we’ll see who lasts longer."

"Bring it on!"

Seeing his threats had no effect, Zhang Xiaofan grinned, his white teeth gleaming. "You know, if you think your chest is too small, I could give you a few acupuncture treatments—get you up a cup size. As long as you stop trying to drive me away, I can make you a model for breast enhancement."