“If I were powerful enough…”
“Third Brother, you’re already very powerful,” Huang Quan gazed up at him and said, “You’re only seventeen this year, and you’re already a Level Six Spirit Master. Isn’t that powerful enough?”
In the Zhongzhou Continent, strength was paramount. Those who absorbed spiritual energy and cultivated it were known as Spirit Masters, and those who cultivated martial skills were known as Warriors. There was a ten-level distinction in both categories.
Most people at the age of seventeen or eighteen were struggling at the third or fourth level of Spirit Mastery. Those with the assistance of spirit-enhancing medicines might reach the fifth level, and achieving higher levels required exceptional talent.
Nangong Mian had excellent talent, reaching the Level Six Spirit Master at just seventeen years of age. Because of this, he had sought his teacher’s permission to bring Huang Quan to the academy.
“It’s not enough,” Nangong Mian said. “Only by becoming someone whom the royal family and the nobles fear can you be truly protected.”
Qin QuanQuan was the daughter of the Prime Minister, and her grandfather was a Level Nine Spirit Master. This was why she dared to bully Huang Quan. If even the daughter of a Prime Minister could mistreat someone like this, not to mention the various princes and princesses.
“Third Brother, no need to rush,” Huang Quan looked at him and said, “You will become that kind of person. Before that, it’s me who will protect you!”
“Quan Quan…” Nangong Mian gazed at Huang Quan, and his eyes gradually reddened. “If our parents were still here, if my older and younger brothers were here, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. It’s all my fault.”
“Third Brother, don’t say such things,” Huang Quan furrowed her brows and frowned. “I don’t like hearing those words from you. You… cough… You’re not at fault.”
However, she couldn’t finish her sentence before being seized by a severe coughing fit.
It was at this moment that Huang Quan finally realized that the frailty was genuine, not just a superficial condition. This weakness couldn’t be avoided even by her.
With a coughing fit, Huang Quan used her spiritual power to examine her body. It seemed fine everywhere, but she didn’t understand why she was so weak without any apparent reason.
“Quan Quan!” Seeing her start to cough, Nangong Mian panicked. “Don’t worry; I won’t say those things anymore.”
“Cough…” The response to Nangong Mian’s words was more severe coughing.
“Take the medicine; you have to take the medicine.” Nangong Mian took a porcelain bottle from his pocket and poured out a shining pill. “Here, Quan Quan, take this medicine.”
Huang Quan obediently took the medicine, but the coughing didn’t abate because of it. She saw the worry on Nangong Mian’s face and discreetly used her spiritual power to alleviate it.
With the help of spiritual power, Huang Quan soon stopped coughing, but the already pale complexion became even paler.
Nangong Mian watched with distress. “Quan Quan…”
“Third Brother, it’s an old problem; nothing to worry about,” Huang Quan reassured him. “Once the coughing fits pass, I’ll be fine.”
Although Huang Quan appeared calm, internally, she couldn’t help but be baffled. What was this situation?
Her body was perfectly healthy, yet this weakness persisted, utterly reasonless.
While she mused on this, she suddenly remembered something and turned to Nangong Mian. “Brother San, did Master Fo Xin come to the academy today?”
Nangong Mian nodded. “Yes, Master Fo Xin came to lecture on Buddhism.”
Cultivators had to attend Buddhist lectures?
Though her inner thoughts were sarcastic, Huang Quan kept her expression unchanged. “Third Brother, Didn’t you want to meet Master Fo Xin? I’m feeling better now; you should go.”
“No rush…”
“Why not?” Huang Quan asked. “Isn’t Master Fo Xin coming to the academy today? I think you shouldn’t miss him.”
Nangong Mian had always wanted to meet Master Fo Xin. It wasn’t because he liked him personally, but because of Huang Quan.
