Gu Jun hummed in agreement. "These shops have been passed down through generations. Most of the time, they serve our academy, but they also serve ordinary people outside. The academy specially opened this area so everyone could see our daily life. Perhaps due to tradition, people here are very quiet, whether shopping or strolling."
"So, does this place lead to the outside?" Zhu Yanyi asked curiously.
"This place doesn't belong entirely to our academy. It’s just within our range. Beyond the academy, there are other households," Mi Xiao answered with a grin. "Fifteen, I didn't know you could be confused too."
Zhu Yanyi smiled helplessly, looking a bit shy. "I was just curious. I thought the school area enclosed everything, like this street serving only students."
"It used to be so," Ouyang Tianyun said. "But as time passed, fewer students came. The shopkeepers still needed to live. Although the academy gives subsidies, having no customers is bad. So, we opened it to everyone. As long as they don’t approach the real study and dorm areas, it’s fine. Over time, it became a new trade zone. It’s not very lively, but livelihoods are secure."
Zhu Yanyi nodded slightly. She felt proud of the Saint Academy’s approachable nature. Cultivators have endless lives but face endless loneliness. Over time, they often become cold and detached, even watching someone die nearby without emotion. But the Saint Academy is different. They show the world that cultivators are just like ordinary people, with more lifespan and ability, but still human. Ordinary people have joys and sorrows; so do academy members. This place allows everyone to relax.
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "I think the academy doing this is really good."
Gu Jun looked at Zhu Yanyi. She hadn’t expected her to understand the academy’s ways in less than a day. She smiled, admitting she was naturally suited to be a cultivator.
"So here, unity and friendship are key. No bullying the weak," Ouyang Tianyun concluded.
"Do you know who I am?" Just as Ouyang Tianyun finished, a voice seemed to deny his words.
Zhu Yanyi blinked. Others exchanged glances and looked out the window.
"Do you know who I am? I am a Golden Core Ancestor." A fat man, looking like a ball, stepped out.
"Who is that ball?" Zhu Yanyi asked Mi Xiao softly.
Mi Xiao shook her head. "Never seen her. Probably from outside. But even outsiders should know our rules."
Zhu Yanyi hummed. "It seems this ball has backing."
"Get lost! Don’t block my way." The ball had two followers. Under his orders, they smashed and kicked nearby vendors.
"Who is this ball? Doesn’t she know this is the Saint Academy’s range?" Zhu Yanyi noticed Mi Xiao had somehow appeared opposite the ball.
"Beauty." The ball squinted, his eyes like slits. He looked at Mi Xiao. "Little beauty, kneel and beg for mercy. I’ll make you my concubine."
"You dead ball, rotten ball, stinky ball, shameless ball! How dare you think of this girl? Do you know who I am?" Mi Xiao was angry.
"Little beauty, you’re even prettier when angry. Take her back," the ball ordered her lackeys.
Lackey One stepped forward. Mi Xiao crossed her hands and cracked her fingers. "Rotten balls bring black balls. Taste my power. Do you think I’m easy to bully?" She punched.
Mi Xiao was a body cultivator, stronger than most. Her punch sent the man flying, hanging on a nearby mast.
Lackey Two attacked from behind. Mi Xiao kicked. He hit the wall, limbs spread, stuck like a big character.
Mi Xiao turned to the ball. "Hey, ball, shouldn’t you roll out of our place?"
"You little bitch! Daring to use force before Grandpa? I’ll show you my power." The ball rolled toward Mi Xiao.
Before Mi Xiao could act, a sharp light froze the ball.
Mi Xiao was unhappy. "Fifteen, why did you move?"
"Nothing. I just thought, Ninth Senior Sister, if you hurt her, who would we ask for compensation? Look, how many rare herbs did she smash on this street?" Zhu Yanyi stepped out.
The vegetable leaves, mistaken for rare herbs, lay lonely on the street. If they were lingzhi, they would be: o((⊙﹏⊙))o
"Look, our relatives are frightened."
The so-called relatives, still guessing the girl’s background, looked confused.
"Look, our priceless protective artifacts are cracked."
The slightly damaged walls, called priceless artifacts, silently shed some dust.
"So, Ninth Senior Sister, if you hit her, she might pretend to be foolish, unconscious, or sick. Then, we can’t ask for compensation," Zhu Yanyi said gently, as if stating facts. "Who made you a body cultivator? If you strike, she won’t survive intact."
The ball was nearly mad with anger while Zhu Yanyi spoke. Hearing Mi Xiao was a body cultivator, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted. Her Golden Core came from a pill her father begged for. Her real strength was only late Foundation Establishment. At the same level, body cultivators were stronger. So, she fainted, or pretended to.
"See? I just said you’re a body cultivator, and she fainted. Look, will you still hit her?" Zhu Yanyi asked Mi Xiao, who was staring blankly.