"Wake up, you sleepyhead."
Ma Feng heard a voice which caused him to growl slightly. He rolled on the bed when a hand grabbed his legs and forced him off. Ma Feng crashed to the ground and slowly turned.
He opened his eyes to see Xi Jing standing before him, slightly frowning. Ma Feng growled again as Xi Jing gnashed his teeth in anger. Ma Feng turned to sleep off again when he mysteriously caught a stick thrown at him.
"Why are you disturbing me, Xi Jing? Can't you let me sleep?" Ma Feng asked.
"Sleep? Do you know what time it is? It isn't nap time, you douchebag," Xi Jing said as he sat down on the bed and sighed deeply. Ma Feng slowly rose from the ground with a smile on his face.
"Good morning, Xi Jing," Ma Feng said as he rested his back on the wall and rubbed his eyes. He turned to see Xi Jing still seated on the bed, frowning at him the entire time, and Ma Feng sighed.
"What is it with you this time around, Xi Jing?" Ma Feng asked.
"This isn't morning, you dumbass. While I was busy looking for our dinner, you were here sleeping like a weirdo. I wonder when you'll ever act reasonably again," Xi Jing said, folding his arms.
"Uhm uhm... I guess I'm sorry, bro. I'm quite hungry... What's up for dinner?" Ma Feng asked as his stomach began dancing and drumming. He suddenly heard a giggling sound from the direction of the kitchen.
"Huh? Xi Jing... You didn't tell me you already had a girlfriend," Ma Feng said.
Prince Xi Jing punched Ma Feng into the wall, clenching his fists, as his little sister Rose walked out of the kitchen. Rose chuckled softly, dressed in a chef's outfit with a smile on her face.
"Brother Ma Feng, it seems like you're alive after all," Rose said as Ma Feng gently stood up from the ground. He wiped the sweat from his face, still smiling. He could have easily dodged the punch, but he felt no need.
"Of course I'm alive, Little Chucky. And besides, why did you hit me like that, Xi Jing? Don't you know I'm a cute little boy?" Ma Feng asked, trying to look cute, and Prince Xi Jing burst into laughter.
"Cute? Who's cute... You're as ugly as hell," Prince Xi Jing said.
"Ugly? That's not true... I'm the most handsome boy in the world. Just look at my muscles," Ma Feng said while flexing. Though he was muscular, it wasn't too much—after all, this was his shapeshifting form!
"Brother Ma Feng, even though I would love to support you, Xi Jing is right—you are ugly," Rose said, and Ma Feng immediately collapsed to the floor. Placing his right hand on his chest, he began to shed tears.
"I can't believe no one adores my beauty... It's so painful," Ma Feng cried, then began to sniff the air. He caught the refreshing aroma and immediately did a kick-up, landing on his feet.
"So delicious... What did you cook?" Ma Feng asked.
"I cooked a delicious delicacy—instant ramen," Rose said proudly as Ma Feng rushed to the kitchen. Before he could enter, a forcefield repelled him and he crashed to the ground.
"What was that for now?" Ma Feng asked as he turned to face Rose. She had a device controller in her hand, and the projected forcefield vanished instantly. Rose giggled.
"I knew a foodie like you would rush into the kitchen at such a time, so I prepared this barrier device to stop you. I'll be sharing my delicacy myself," Rose said with pride as she walked back into the kitchen.
"Xi Jing... Is Rose always like this?" Ma Feng asked.
"I can't say no and I can't say yes either, but whenever she cooks, she's known as the Queen of Pride. And... she can only cook instant ramen," Prince Xi Jing whispered, and Ma Feng laughed out loud.
"Rosie... Can you please hurry with the food?" Ma Feng asked as the worms in his stomach began protesting against him. He was already feeling hungry—and as a foodie, he probably would never get satisfied!
A Few Minutes Later... The Instant Ramen Was Served.
Xi Jing and Rose ate their food with the elegance of royalty, each movement precise and graceful.
Ma Feng, on the other hand, devoured his hot ramen without hesitation, completely ignoring etiquette. The two siblings stared at him in shock.
"Ma Feng, you know I'd rather eat alone than be seen with you in public. You're so embarrassing," Xi Jing muttered, glancing at Rose—only to find her bowl already empty.
"Huh? When did you—" he began, but stopped when Rose licked her lips casually.
"She's faster than me when it comes to eating," Ma Feng said. "Anyway, I wanted to ask... Do you know Crystal Rendevor?"
Both siblings froze mid-motion.
"Crystal Rendevor? The former Queen of Darkness?" Xi Jing scoffed. "That narcissistic girl who used to terrify the first-year lowers and drive our teachers insane during the first-year upper?"
"She only cared about herself," he continued. "She never hesitated to speak out against anyone she hated. Always quiet, but her silence was menacing. She ruled the academy's dark underworld until the authorities finally stepped in."
"Authorities?" Ma Feng tilted his head.
"She was reported to the Sterling Federation. The case reached the Federation's main head. Whatever punishment they gave her... no one really knows. But two months later, she came back quieter—calmer, at least on the surface."
"Still harsh and chaotic underneath," Rose added. "They even invited her to become one of the Seven Goddesses. She refused, said it was 'too fancy.'"
"So you don't hate her?" Ma Feng asked.
"She never did anything to me," Xi Jing shrugged. "She's in the Sorcery Department now. Apparently, she was hiding her magical potential all along."
"Same department as me, huh?" Ma Feng muttered, leaning back in his chair. "What was her old department?"
"Assassin Department," Xi Jing replied. "That's when she was the most feared. Assassins are always the scariest. Crescent Department folks get respect, but Assassins? Fear."
"I'm in the Assassin Department," Rose noted calmly.
"Crystal Rendevor..." Ma Feng mused aloud. "Didn't think you had such a nasty past. Kind of impressive, honestly."
He looked up to find both siblings staring at him.
"What?"
"You're asking a lot about someone who used to be a feared assassin," Rose said with a smirk. "Be honest—do you have a crush on her?"
Ma Feng stood, sighing as he ran a hand through his hair.
"A crush? What's that?"
"You're joking," Rose blinked. "A crush is when your heart races for someone—you know, romantic feelings. You've never been in a relationship?"
"Nope. Never have, never plan to," Ma Feng replied, walking to the door. "And this crush thing? Doesn't apply to me."
"Where are you going?" Xi Jing asked.
"Just getting some fresh air. I won't be long."
He stepped outside—then vanished in an instant using the Erafel Teleportation Button embedded in his device.
---
A Few Miles Away…
Ma Feng appeared in a shadowed, unfamiliar stretch of woods. Hands in his pockets, he strolled—until he felt danger. Two blades slashed toward him from behind. He dodged smoothly, twisting mid-air.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
The swords retracted into the darkness. Movement rustled around him.
Battle Mode: Activated.
Normally, Violet—the system—only initiated Battle Mode when it sensed killing intent. But Ma Feng had long since taken control. His right eye glowed as the Mode engaged.
"I won't ask again."
Ma Feng vanished—then reappeared in the dark, launching a vicious kick at his attacker, who crashed to the ground, clutching twin blades.
As the assailant turned to retaliate, Ma Feng had already disappeared.
"Violet didn't detect killing intent... but I did," he thought. "Maybe he's too weak to register."
Perched on a tree branch, he turned—six arrows flew at him.
Ma Feng evaded them and snapped his fingers—Time froze.
"Copied magic has no limit once stored," he reminded himself. "Still can't use my dragon spells—too unstable. Guess I'll use brute force."
He vanished, beat three hidden attackers into the ground, then landed as he unpaused time. Groans of pain echoed through the woods. Ma Feng stood tall, his deadly aura spreading.
"Just one question—who are you people?"
"Hey! We were just hunting! Why'd you hit us so hard?" one cried, holding his cheek.
Ma Feng scratched his head lazily. "My bad. You looked... suspicious."
He turned—his gaze locking onto a cloaked figure in the shadows.
"My, my... angry, are we? You must be their leader."
The figure dropped from a tree, pulling down his hood to reveal striking blue eyes and red hair.
"They're not my children. Get off them. You're strong—I don't want a fight," the man said calmly.
"Who are you?" Ma Feng asked.
"Raisen Bourne. Fourth-Year Lower. Assassin Department. You?"
The two locked eyes for a long moment.
"A fourth-year? No wonder he resisted time-stoppage... interesting," Ma Feng mused, grinning.
"Ma Feng. Third-Year Lower. Sorcery Department. I'll be going now."
With a flash, he vanished again.
Raisen stood silently, watching the stars.
"...That kid... who is he?"