Chapter 420: The Demonic Shen's Crystal Core!

"Y-You are leaving?"

Deng Yongshi suddenly stood up, her bright eyes fixed on Ling Feng.

She had once dreamed of driving this damned brat away, but now, hearing Ling Feng speak of his departure, she felt a sudden emptiness in her heart.

"Why?" Deng Yongshi bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening. "I was just beginning to accept you as my teacher! D-Do you not want me anymore?"

"Because you have already changed, my task is complete," Ling Feng said with a faint smile. "You know I’m just an ordinary student at Tianwei Academy. I need to return there for further training."

Ling Feng hadn’t expected Deng Yongshi’s reaction to be so strong. He gently pressed her back into her chair. "These three days were just my holiday. Now that the break is over, I must return to Tianwei Academy."

Realizing her own outburst, Deng Yongshi felt her face flush slightly. She looked up at Ling Feng shyly, biting her lip, and asked, "Will you come back to teach me in the future?"

"If I have the time, yes." Ling Feng nodded. "After all, you are my first student."

Pouting slightly, Deng Yongshi felt relieved knowing Ling Feng would return. Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "But aren’t the sky-tier students at Tianwei Academy free to arrange their own time?"

"But I’m just a yellow-tier student," Ling Feng replied with a smile.

"A yellow-tier student?" Deng Yongshi’s eyes widened, swallowing hard.

Since when did the yellow-tier students of Tianwei Academy become so monstrous?

"Yes, I’m just a yellow-tier student." Ling Feng’s face remained calm.

Deng Yongshi bit her lip hard, remaining silent for a while before finally speaking. "You’re truly a... monster!"

Ling Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. "Before I leave, I want to remind you of a few things. The stones in the backyard should remain there. When I return, I hope you can have them stacked into proper stone pillars."

"Hmph!" Deng Yongshi snorted. She wanted to retort but instead said, "I know! You’re such a nagger!"

Raising an eyebrow, Ling Feng took a deep breath and finally addressed the real issue.

"One last thing." Ling Feng coughed lightly. "The reason I came to the General’s Mansion wasn’t just to be your teacher. I came for the thousand-year-old demonic shen's crystal core."

Ling Feng stared into Deng Yongshi’s eyes, feeling a bit uneasy. "I heard from Senior Deng that he gave the crystal core to you as a birthday gift. This crystal core is very important to me, so I hope you can..."

"So, you approached me just to get the crystal core?" Deng Yongshi’s expression changed slightly, and she puffed up in anger.

"Half the reason, yes," Ling Feng admitted. "The other half was due to Senior Deng’s request. Before this, my feelings toward you were merely neutral."

"You scoundrel! Can’t you say something nice to comfort me?"

Deng Yongshi’s anger faded, and she glared at Ling Feng with a hint of helplessness. "Fine, since you didn’t lie to me, I’ll give you the crystal core. But consider it my tuition fee. If you take the core and never return, I’ll go to Tianwei Academy and tell everyone you deceived an innocent girl!"

"Pfft..." Ling Feng almost spat out blood, forcing a sheepish smile. "I won’t, I promise..."

"Hmph!" Deng Yongshi rolled her eyes at Ling Feng, her face blushing slightly. She tugged at a thin red string around her neck, slowly pulling it out.

At the end of the string hung a crystal as white as jade— the demonic shen's crystal core.

So, Deng Yongshi had been wearing the crystal core around her neck, right in front of her chest.

Ling Feng instinctively glanced at her chest. His face then turned red as he quickly averted his gaze.

"Here, take it," Deng Yongshi said, placing the demonic shen’s crystal core in Ling Feng's palm while biting her lip. "I've worn this crystal core for five years, and now I'm giving it to you."

"Thank you, Miss Deng," Ling Feng said, holding the crystal core. He could still feel a trace of warmth and smell a faint fragrance on it, clearly belonging to Deng Yongshi.

"Hmph!" Deng Yongshi shot Ling Feng a glare. She found it strange that she had given the crystal core away so readily.

Perhaps, when facing Ling Feng and seeing his eyes, she couldn't find the words to refuse.

"Well, now that you have what you came for, are you leaving?" Deng Yongshi looked at Ling Feng expectantly, testing the waters.

"Uh..." Ling Feng felt a bit guilty since he indeed wanted to leave immediately.

"Of course not," Ling Feng said, steeling himself. "There's still some time before dusk. If you don’t mind, we can continue yesterday’s training."

"No objections!" Deng Yongshi immediately nodded without a second thought. "Let's go then!"

Ling Feng nodded. "Good. If you can maintain this attitude in your training, your grandfather will be proud of you sooner or later!"

"Of course, that’s a given!"

...

Ling Feng supervised Deng Yongshi as she stacked the stone pillars until sunset. Only then did he bid farewell to General Deng and his granddaughter, leaving the general's mansion.

Though many things had happened over these three days, he finally obtained the demonic shen's crystal core. He wondered how Yan Cangtian was progressing with the formula for the Demon-Transforming Pill.

"Ling Feng, my young friend, visit us whenever you have time!"

General Deng said, giving Ling Feng a hearty pat on the shoulder and laughing. "See, I told you that you could manage Little Shi. In just a few days, she's like a completely different person."

"Miss Deng has a kind heart. I merely helped her understand a few things," Ling Feng said with a faint smile before giving a fist-and-palm salute to General Deng. "I’ll take my leave now."

"Go ahead. And don’t forget to send my regards to Yan Cangtian," General Deng said with a smile, stroking his long beard.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I will remember," Ling Feng nodded. He glanced at Deng Yongshi and said warmly, "Thank you, Miss Deng, for your generous gift."

"Hmph, who needs your thanks?" Deng Yongshi bit her lip and whispered, "Teacher Ling, you... must remember to come back and see me and Grandpa!"

"Finally calling me teacher, are you?" Ling Feng laughed heartily, nodding firmly. "I will!"

With that, Ling Feng used his movement art, and in a few flashes, he disappeared from their sight.

As Ling Feng's figure vanished, tears welled up in Deng Yongshi's eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back.

"You silly girl, you were yelling for him to leave when he came, and now that he's gone, you’re crying. Has my precious granddaughter fallen for that brat?" General Deng teased with a smile.

"Of course not!" Deng Yongshi vigorously wiped away her tears. "I’m just happy that annoying brat is finally gone! These are tears of joy!"

General Deng chuckled, patting Deng Yongshi on the back of her head. "Alright, alright. Your young folks' business is beyond your grandpa’s control!"

Deng Yongshi pouted. She was confused herself.

I should hate that guy, shouldn’t I?