Long Wei didn't even break his stride. He walked straight through the freezing pressure of Long Feng's aura as if it were nothing more than a light mist. His shoulder brushed against his brother's as he passed, a move of such casual indifference that it felt like a slap to the face.
Long Feng stood frozen, his glowing palm still raised, his mouth hanging open in pure shock. It took him several seconds to find his voice, and when he did, it was a strangled, high-pitched roar of fury.
"Long Wei! I will have my revenge for this disrespect! Do you hear me? You are a dead man at the examination!"
Long Wei didn't even turn his head. He just kept walking, his hands still tucked behind his skull.
(What in the actual fuck is he talking about? Revenge? For walking down, a hallway?)
He turned the corner, the sound of Long Feng's muffled shouting fading behind him. The encounter had left him feeling a different kind of tension. The Monster Qi was still buzzing under his skin, and the adrenaline of the "conflict" had stirred up his old Earthly habits.
(Sigh. That was way too much social interaction for one day. I need to decompress before that idiotic, egotistical brother of mine decides to come back and bother me again.)
He reached his room and kicked the door shut with his heel. The broken table was still a pile of splinters in the corner, a reminder of the power currently rotting his common sense. He sat on the edge of the silk-covered bed, letting out a long breath.
(Right. Back to basics. A little stress relief, and then I'll figure out how to handle the "Old Man" at the feast.)
He settled in, reached into his robes, and was just getting back to his favorite "hobby" from his past life when the door creaked open. He didn't even have time to react before Mei stepped inside, carrying a fresh set of dark, folded robes.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Long Wei froze, his hand mid-motion. Mei froze, her eyes dropping instantly to exactly what he was doing. The laundry in her arms slipped, the dark fabric hitting the floor with a soft thud.
(Fuck... this is my second bad impression. Shit. Shit. Shit.)
The awkwardness was so thick you could have cut it with a spirit sword. Mei's face didn't just turn red this time; it turned a deep, bruised purple. Her eyes welled up with tears of pure, unadulterated embarrassment, and her lip began to tremble.
(Wait, why am I the one panicking? I'm the Young Master. This is my room!)
"I... I... Young Master! The clothes! I was just... the tailor!" Mei stammered, her voice reaching a pitch only dogs could hear. She looked like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
Long Wei stared at her, his brain scrambling to find a "Noble" way to explain why he was doing this for the second time in an hour. The Monster Qi in his gut gave a bored little wiggle, as if it found the whole situation hilarious.
(I should say something cool. Something like 'Begone, peasant.' But instead, I'm just sitting here with my sword out.)
"Mei," he said, his voice cracking slightly before he regained his composure. "Have you ever heard of... knocking?"
Mei didn't answer. She let out a tiny, high-pitched squeak, turned on her heel, and vanished through the door so fast she left a trail of dark robes on the floor.
(Fuck. My reputation in this sect is going to be "The Young Master Who Never Wears Pants." This is the worst transmigration luck in history.)
Before he could even process the second embarrassment, a sharp, twisting pain hit his gut. It wasn't the Monster Qi this time it was actual, hollow hunger. His stomach let out a growl so loud it sounded like a dying beast.
(Right. I haven't eaten since I died. And apparently, this monster energy burns calories like a furnace.)
He threw on a fresh robe, tied the belt extra tight this time, and headed toward the Azure Sect's communal dining hall. When he arrived, the place was packed with disciples. The moment he stepped in, the chatter died down. They looked at him with a mix of pity and disgust.
Long Wei ignored them. He grabbed a tray and loaded it with enough rice, steamed buns, and boiled greens to feed four grown men. He sat in a corner and started shoveling it in.
(Chew. Swallow. Repeat. Why the hell does this taste like cardboard? This is so fucking plain!)
The disciples nearby were whispering, eyes wide. They had never seen the "Azure Failure" eat with such ferocity. It was like watching a starving animal.