When Earth Awakened, I Became a Sword Saintess

Chapter 72 : Sunset Over the Lakeside Dormitory

72: Sunset Over the Lakeside Dormitory

Whether heading to the villas, the four-person dormitory buildings, or the old eight-person dormitory buildings, the new students walked under the setting sun. Dean Tong's speech had left them profoundly shaken.

Those from prominent families, who had for generations guarded these secrets, already had their own plans.

As for those who didn't know, most were, for the moment, unable to make a decision. Should they risk life and limb on a bloody battlefield, or should they leverage the academy's prestige and resources to partake in a glossed-over peace? This was no simple decision.

But regardless of the path they chose, they needed their own strength as the foundation. This was precisely why they had cultivated so painstakingly for over a decade to arrive here.

In ancient times, one would follow an emperor to conquer the world and be enfeoffed with lands and titles. The Jia Mansion in Dream of the Red Chamber rose through military and martial might, embodying the essence of power and benefit in a feudal society. During the Warring States period of our nation, warrior factions fought for territory.

Modern society no longer has empires vying for supremacy. However, the current global economy is incredibly developed, far beyond what could be compared to ancient times. This massive economy fully supports Source Martial Practitioners! One can only imagine what kind of life a powerful Source Martial Practitioner can lead in this world.

Someone like Zhang Henglong, who ventured and fought over there, built a vast industry for his family. Mr. Du, relying on his strength and methods, became a major player on Lingdu Beach, with his strength being the primary factor.

But to rely solely on a diploma from a Source Martial Academy to become a mid-level manager in a large company, while not bad, is ultimately limited. One might not even get a meeting with a big shot like Boss Ma. To fight for more for oneself or one's family, one must seek to maximize benefits in this world, but this is accompanied by immense risks.

Humanity has a common interest. For this greater interest, most people are willing to channel their own benefits to the Source Martial Practitioners. For example, Zhang Biaoyang's Source Blood Pill is an object countless examinees desire, but it had to be exchanged for his father's time in prison. Risk and opportunity always coexist. Source Martial Practitioners do not take advantage of all of humanity.

The lakeside villas were arranged in elegant curves following the shoreline of Yuehu Lake and the slopes of the mountain. Most were two stories high, with every dozen or so rooms connected on their rear by an outdoor corridor.

The four rooms on the ground floor were taken first. Four rooms were on the second floor.

Yuyin and Hua Qianyuan followed a senior female student up the walkway to the second floor. Qin Feizhen and Ximen Liang, each with their respective female companions, along with another pair of girls, followed behind them, carrying their luggage.

The room numbers on this floor were also consecutive.

Yuyin then realized a small problem with having chosen first: if any of the boys who chose later wanted to be near her, they could pick the room next door. But there was nothing she could do about that.

Just as Yuyin and the others stepped onto the second-floor corridor, a walkway over two meters wide, full of lush greenery and beautiful hanging vines. Two girls blocked their path.

"A Senior Source Martial Practitioner?" Yuyin sensed immediately that the taller girl with light cyan long hair had an extraordinary aura.

"Stronger than me!" Yuyin was startled. Although it was normal for a senior from the Lingdu Source Martial Academy to have a stronger aura than her own. The people behind Yuyin also stopped.

"Senior Liu Xing?" The guide student's tone was clearly respectful when speaking to the girl with light cyan hair.

Senior Liu Xing's gaze swept over Yuyin, paused for a moment, then looked at the others behind her. She frowned, her voice cold and stern. "This floor is off-limits to males."

"Huh?"

Yuyin naturally said nothing. Ximen Liang immediately spoke up. "I said, beautiful Senior Sister, who knows how many years of peace are left in this world? Why must you speak so seriously? We live here too. Are you not going to let us up? Should we climb through the window to get to our rooms every day? What if we climb into the wrong room, a Senior Sister's room, what then?"

Ximen Liang still had his slick, flirtatious demeanor.

Liu Xing took a step forward. It was as if cyan ice flames were burning in her eyes. A terrifying aura emanated from her. "I will only warn you once. How many more years of peace the world has left has nothing to do with the likes of you. If you dare speak to me like that again, I will personally send you downstairs, and it won't be via the stairs."

Ximen Liang was momentarily stunned by Liu Xing's powerful Primordial Energy. The seniors of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy were truly on another level. He wanted to persist with a few more flirtatious remarks, but was stopped by Qin Feizhen.

Liu Xing?

Qin Feizhen felt like he had heard that name somewhere. His expression soured. "Senior Liu Xing, I presume? I don't understand what you mean. We earned the right to live here through our ranking in the water competition. Do you not even recognize the school rules?"

Liu Xing looked up the hillside beside the corridor and scoffed. "You bring shame to the affiliated high school, and you have the nerve to mention the competition? Fine, of course we recognize the school rules. But let me also remind you of a rule. According to the school regulations, you can freely exchange rooms within dormitories of the same level. You can have your female roommates switch rooms with you, and you few boys can switch down to the first floor. Won't that do?"

"Hehe... Senior Liu Xing said it's a voluntary exchange. What if we're unwilling?" Qin Feizhen sneered. A joke. The rights he fought for, why should he give them up just because of a senior's say-so?

Liu Xing folded her arms. Although her chest wasn't particularly large, she smiled faintly. "In that case, I will have no choice but to tell Senior Lianyue that a junior from the affiliated high school disrespected her in front of outsiders."

"What?" Qin Feizhen's face changed instantly. "You... you mean this is Senior Lianyue's idea?"

"With the teaching staff currently limited in number, the dormitory order is maintained by the Student Council. Whose idea would it be, if not the Student Council President, Senior Lianyue? Have you trained yourself into a fool?" Liu Xing said.

"..." Qin Feizhen lowered his head, his body trembling slightly. "I remember now. Senior Liu Xing, one of the Seven Talents of the Lingdu Source Martial Academy. I apologize for my disrespect... Since this is Senior Lianyue's intention, why didn't you say so sooner, Senior Liu Xing?"

"Heh, I thought my own reputation would be sufficient. Who would have known that you new students wouldn't even put me in your eyes."

"It's nothing, Senior Liu Xing. My apologies. It was a moment of carelessness."

"Don't worry. We in the Student Council have no authority to strip you of your villa rights. There should be male Student Council members downstairs reminding them as well. They will have the girls switch up with you. You can go down now," Liu Xing dismissed them.

"Understood..." Qin Feizhen grabbed Ximen Liang's hand. "Ximen, let's go."

"Ah? Hey, where... where are we going?" Ximen Liang was completely confused.

"Downstairs. To switch rooms," Qin Feizhen said, his head bowed honestly.

"But..."

"Ximen, are you the kind of person who lacks for women? If I, Qin Feizhen, didn't mind people thinking I had abnormal preferences, what would it matter if I chose a male roommate? Let's go. If you still want to stay in this academy."

"..."

Under the confused gazes of the new female students, Qin Feizhen complied without another word, leading Ximen Liang downstairs.

"Hey, Brother Qin..." the purple-haired, seductively charming girl, Yu Minjie, called out to Qin Feizhen unwillingly. "This... what is this about? Don't the arrangements made by Teacher Chen Qian'ning count?"

"Hmph, you shallow green pond, you underestimate Chen Qian'ning too much. That was merely her using your lust to ignite your fighting spirit," Liu Xing said mercilessly.

"You..." Yu Minjie was both angry and scared. Without a man to back her up, she didn't dare to say more.

Liu Xing watched the two boys leave without complaint, then walked to Yuyin's side. "At the same time, Chen Qian'ning was also using that to test you new students. Hmph, that's her usual tactic."

Yuyin looked at Liu Xing, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"Chen Qian'ning is a woman with very effective teaching methods. She acts in unconventional ways and is good at stirring up everyone's edge. But, if you really make decisions based on your lower body and choose a female roommate, it will only leave a bad impression in the mind of that woman, who is a clean freak." Liu Xing said to herself.

"..."

"Xia Yuyin?" Liu Xing looked at Yuyin. "If you had chosen a boy, I'm afraid what she reports to the Dean would be phrased quite differently."

"That... I wouldn't have..." As if Yuyin would ever choose a boy.

"Oh, right. Xia Yuyin. Senior Lianyue said you should come hang out at the Student Council office when you have time."

With that, Liu Xing swung her slender, jade-like arm and, along with the other female Source Martial Practitioner beside her, walked away with a practiced grace.

Yuyin stood there, her thoughts in turmoil. "Teacher Chen Qian'ning, could it be... she knew all along about the dormitory management system? Did she do this intentionally? Was she testing them, or was she testing me?"

The senior guide student, who hadn't dared to say a word the entire time, only spoke after watching them walk away. "Well... since that's the case, it's fine... I'll take you to your rooms..."

In the end, due to the Student Council's intervention, the entire second floor was switched to female residents. The new boys had "voluntarily" exchanged their rooms.

Yuyin and Hua Qianyuan entered the room that belonged to them.

The previous confusion also dissipated. After all, having the room next door be occupied entirely by girls was a good thing for Yuyin.

"The view here is truly beautiful."

Hua Qianyuan put down her luggage and walked to the balcony, gazing at the last glimmer of golden water on Yuehu Lake and the deep purple shadows of the mountains, a scroll painted with the evening sunset.

The room was extremely spacious, simple yet elegant, and decorated with high-quality materials.

Two white beds were placed separately, one by the window and one by the door. Paired, elegant wardrobes and desks and chairs, as well as a small sofa, coffee table, and other amenities were all present. There was even a private bathroom. It was indeed very nice.

After closing the door, Hua Qianyuan turned around, only to realize that the two of them were alone. And this exquisitely furnished room felt a bit like a hotel room...

For a moment, the atmosphere quieted down.

"Um..." Seeing Yuyin not speaking, Hua Qianyuan hurriedly looked for a topic.

"Hmm?"

"In the future... can I call you Little Yuan?" she asked.

"Little Yuan? Sure," Yuyin said with a smile.

"Then... can I call you Sister Yuyin?" she asked, using the honorific for an older sister.

"Ah? You can, but why not just call me Yuyin? We're in the same year."

"I... I grew up inside a clan or sect, and I've never been to a regular high school. According to the conventions of the outside world, my age should be equivalent to a second-year in high school. So... I wanted to call you 'sister'. I wonder if that's alright." Hua Qianyuan lowered her head, her hands behind her back, speaking with a bit of trepidation.

Yuyin looked at her in surprise.

Only the equivalent of a high school sophomore? No wonder she looked so young. And yet, she was able to get into the Lingdu Source Martial Academy? And under such disadvantageous circumstances, she passively knocked three boys into the water... This Little Yuan was also quite extraordinary.

"Of course you can," Yuyin said, squinting her eyes and smiling gently.

"Really? That's wonderful... sister... Sister Yuyin." Little Yuan called out sweetly, and actually ran over excitedly, hugging Yuyin, just like a younger girl acting cute with her older sister.

"Ah?" Yuyin's soul was still that of a boy. To be suddenly hugged by a girl, she was momentarily at a loss.