“Not bad, Transfer Student, you’ve got some real skill,” Yeqi praised.
Lianjian and Yeqi were both straightforward types—if you had strength, they’d acknowledge you.
The two sisters were the easiest early-game Meat Endurance King Tools to win over in Banyan Lily; as long as you were strong enough, you could make them submit.
After undergoing intense training from the Faceless Witch and Qingshamu, White Feather Dove’s abilities had soared, now able to contend single-handedly with the Golden Fang Beast Sisters.
“Such slow swordsmanship! Too slow! Way too slow!”
Though Lianjian kept talking tough, she finally understood why all the factions wanted this Transfer Student—the strength was truly extraordinary.
In a sense, the Golden Fang Beast Sisters were like Combat Power Detectors, able to quickly gauge a magical beast apprentice’s fighting prowess.
White Feather Dove might not match up to Shijietang Simon or Qingshamu, those truly extraordinary fighters, but her combat style was infuriating—she was the ultimate old turtle.
Without an overwhelming advantage, she’d never go on the offensive.
She’d just keep blocking, dodging, dissipating force, and shifting positions.
Once your patience was exhausted and your mentality ruined, her fierce sword would strike—each move aiming to kill.
The contest was all about patience; the strategy was dragging things out, the swordplay all about sticking it out.
Yet you couldn’t accuse her of underhanded methods for victory—just curse her style for being so turtle-like.
On top of that, White Feather Dove could use the Lunar Shield.
Fighting us in close combat with a shield on?
That was the most infuriating of all—turtle among turtles!
“Not fighting anymore! I’m done! You damn cheater!”
After several rounds, Lianjian was so irritated she felt her head was about to burst, her mood reaching peak frustration.
“Let’s go one-on-one!”
But Yeqi was thoroughly impressed by White Feather Dove, continuing to spar and test herself against her.
“Feini, you should eat first.”
Shijietang Simon glanced over at the scene, offered a warm and caring reminder, then turned to leave.
In reality, she stepped aside to whisper something to Lianjian, keeping it out of Feini’s earshot.
“What do you think of the Transfer Student’s strength?” Shijietang Simon asked quietly.
“She’s a genius, Boss, you absolutely have to recruit her,” Lianjian said in amazement.
Turns out, the post-meal sparring had also been orchestrated by Shijietang Simon, all for personally testing the Transfer Student’s abilities.
After all, all previous information had come from others’ mouths—it was never as convincing as personally taking her on in a fight.
“Her magic shield is the trickiest and most underhanded I’ve ever fought. It’s not like your Tea Party Club’s glass shields at all—her magic shield is like a thick layer of soft gel, absorbing and dissolving our attacks.”
“And her swordsmanship is incredibly stable, skilled at blocking, dissipating force, dodging, and repositioning. Combined with the magic shield… ugh! It’s disgusting to the point of madness.”
Lianjian shuddered as she spoke, goosebumps rising all over—it was clear just how much she’d been affected.
Even if the Transfer Student wasn’t as strong overall as the 302 Dormitory Five, there was no way to defeat her without going all out.
“I see.” Shijietang Simon nodded, knowing what to do.
The Transfer Student’s unique magic was the nemesis of melee magical beasts—nearly countering all agile magical beasts.
Without burst damage, breaking her Lunar Shield was impossible.
Her ability would be a hidden weapon when facing upperclassmen teams in the future—she had to be drawn into her own lineup.
But that Transfer Student’s personality was unyielding, not talkative, with an innate air of divinity and a cold poker face—it wouldn’t be easy to approach her.
Still, it wasn’t impossible. It came down to this: the Transfer Student only listened to Feini.
So, as long as she won over Feini, the Transfer Student would naturally become her obedient servant.
The real obstacle was Qingshamu, the annoying third wheel—she’d have to find a way to send her packing.
Although she’d roughhoused with Feini before, with her own charm, Shijietang Simon was confident she could conquer the intimidating little beast.
“Isn’t that as easy as turning my hand over?” she muttered conceitedly to herself.
“Ahchoo~” Not far away, Feini shivered and went to sit by the campfire to eat some stew.
But as soon as she sat down, Xueyuedai and Qingshamu immediately stood up and quickly moved away in perfect synchrony, inexplicably avoiding Feini and not wanting to sit with her.
“What the heck?” Feini had no idea what was going on.
Did she mess up the stew? Yet they’d practically finished all of it.
She didn’t care, though—she kept eating, gnawing on a bone or two. After eating her own stew, and still getting the cold shoulder? Like she cared—eat or don’t, whatever.
Qingshamu strolled off nearby, letting the wind cool her down.
She soon noticed Xueyuedai pacing gloomily as well.
After a moment’s hesitation, she approached Qingshamu and said coldly, “I’ve seen through Simon’s plan. She wants to take over Feini and aims to control the Transfer Student. You’re not just going to stand by and watch, are you?”
“What do you mean? Why are you telling me this?” Qingshamu replied just as coolly. “Are you worried that Feini will steal Simon’s affection from you?”
“…” Xueyuedai didn’t answer.
“You’re not afraid I’ll tell Simon?” Qingshamu took her silence as consent.
“Doesn’t matter,” Xueyuedai replied perfunctorily.
“So, are you planning to help me?” Qingshamu asked.
“I wouldn’t call it helping, but from now on I’ll stay neutral, quietly supporting your rise,” Xueyuedai answered.
With that, the two parted and walked their separate ways, as if the conversation had never happened.
As expected, everyone had their own secret agendas.
And after days of observation, Qingshamu had noticed that Xueyuedai’s influence in the small group had waned.
She was no longer as important in Simon’s circle as she had been at first; Simon’s closest confidante had now become Lianjian.
Now, even the role of the group’s strategist had been taken by Feini, leaving Xueyuedai more or less a transparent figure—just a charming little fox pet, with her status at risk.
So, to prevent Feini from rising to the top, she was willing to secretly join forces with Qingshamu and work together against Shijietang Simon from the shadows.
Of course, this was a good thing for Qingshamu.
There was no way she’d allow Feini and White Feather Dove to be snatched away by Shijietang Simon.
Anything else could be forgiven, but stealing her wife or her girl—never.
Even if she and Feini had their own disagreements lately, that was their business—outsiders had better keep out of it.
It’s when couples are quarreling that outsiders are most likely to take advantage—she had to be on guard.
But little did she know…
The little fox might not just be worried about Feini stealing Simon’s love.
Maybe she was more afraid that Feini would be taken over by the Pig-headed Boss.
Maybe even Xueyuedai herself wasn’t sure what she really felt inside.
“How’s dinner?”
“Delicious.”
“Tasty.”
At night, everyone sat around the campfire making idle conversation, though in truth, each harbored their own secret thoughts.
Only White Feather Dove and Yeqi were the pure, guileless ones, still sparring on the open ground nearby, exchanging insights about combat.