Chapter 19: Fierce Battle in the Skies

A month ago, when Li Chenqian decided to let Chu Linfeng accompany Li Xiaoxue to enroll at the Beijing Kunlun Academy, Shen Luoxi, who was already a teacher at the Beijing Academy, submitted a transfer application to the Chinese military.

Compared to the comfortable life at the academy, the duties of the military were far more arduous and even dangerous. The military was naturally pleased with such an application and approved it promptly.

The addition of the genius girl Shen Luoxi, known as the "Hekui" (The Dipper), became a hot topic at the time. The military media even devoted extensive coverage to it, and for a while, morale across the North China Military Region soared.

Yet, all of this actually stemmed from Shen Luoxi’s desire to escape. She truly did not know how to face him—the tender, youthful boy who, despite his youth, had once stunned her, even though she was a genius herself.

She had fantasized countless times about the scene of meeting this talented boy again: would they stand on mountaintops and share a smile, or fight side-by-side as the boy turned back to gaze at her in admiration?

So, when Li Xiaoxue asked her that day if she wanted to go see the boy, she had felt a flicker of joy. That was, until her desperate attempt to show off before the East Sea Whale Dragon led to the Peach Blossom Enchantress’s sneak attack.

What should have been a dreamlike encounter between geniuses and a mutual appreciation between heroes turned into an unspeakable farce.

She had acted wantonly toward a boy six years her junior; she had indirectly ruined him. But what could she do? She was only a woman; she had lost her virginity, and she had her own unspoken bitterness. The boy constantly appeared in her thoughts, and she would always pray that they would never meet again.

Yet, fate often has a way of being mysterious and inexplicable. Shen Luoxi, who had spent the last month in the control tower, had just been forced to land to oversee operations due to an abnormal radar signal, only to unexpectedly catch this flight and encounter the very person she had tried so hard to avoid.

Fate is truly strange, with a monster playing matchmaker!

As Chu Linfeng stared at her in shock, she recognized him at once. Three years had passed; he now appeared steady and mature, and she had grown into a woman of elegant charm.

The two stood there, gazing at each other for a long time. The Hekui’s cheeks flushed, and Chu Linfeng’s eyes grew moist. One looked back in shyness, the other looked back at a scar.

*The banquet of wine and gold, a branch broken in the high palace,*
*Why must heroes meet, and if they meet, why must they know each other?*

Even the simple-minded girls noticed something was wrong. "Husband, do you two know each other?" Tang Cai asked, puzzled.

Chu Linfeng just stared blankly, offering no answer.

Sensing a hint of what was happening, Tang Xie grabbed Chu Linfeng’s arm and intentionally raised her voice: "Honey! What are you looking at? Do you two know each other?" After she finished, she signaled Tang Cai to do the same.

*Husband? Honey!* Watching the two women clinging to Chu Linfeng, Shen Luoxi hadn't yet grasped the situation, but a woman’s intuition told her that a drop of vinegar had been spilled into her heart, leaving a sour sting.

"Oh, hello, Teacher Shen."

Chu Linfeng didn't know what to say. In his heart, he had never once blamed Shen Luoxi. In fact, he had secretly thought of her as his wife—a wife of "falling flowers." Although he had lost his memory and couldn't recall the experience, they had, at the very least, shared the reality of being husband and wife.

"Teacher Shen?" Tang Cai and Tang Xie were stunned. Shen Luoxi was equally taken aback. In her past fantasies, she had wondered what Chu Linfeng would call her: *Senior Sister? Mentor? Big sister?* She had imagined intimacy, but she never expected such a distant, formal address. For a moment, she didn't know how to address him either.

"Oh... Chu... student, what are you doing here?"

Before Chu Linfeng could reply, the playful Tang Xie tugged at his ear and said, "Tell me, who exactly is she? How can there be such a young teacher!"

"Ouch! She really is a teacher. Tang Cai, don't just stand there, handle your sister. Didn't you say she was at the Lingkong Realm? Is that realm not qualified to be a teacher?" Chu Linfeng tilted his head, pulling on Tang Cai for rescue.

The steadier Tang Cai listened to his words, found them reasonable, and grabbed her sister’s hand.

"Sorry about that, Teacher Shen, hope you don't mind the spectacle. These two are my wives, though we only married three days ago—no, we haven't actually had the ceremony... well, it’s hard to explain in a few words," Chu Linfeng said with an awkward laugh.

Shen Luoxi was even more confused. How did two wives suddenly appear? "Shouldn't you be at the academy? Why did you run out?"

"Didn't Li Chenqian tell you?" Chu Linfeng was the one confused now. He had been out for so many days; had Li Chenqian not told his beloved student?

"Master didn't tell me. What happened?" A foreboding feeling rose in Shen Luoxi’s heart. How could Chu Linfeng address her master by his full name? Could it be!

"Then go ask him yourself. Tang Cai, Tang Xie, let's go. To the waiting hall." At the mere mention of Li Chenqian, Chu Linfeng’s anger flared. He didn't want to say another word, pulling the two girls toward the shuttle bus.

Watching Chu Linfeng’s retreating figure, Shen Luoxi grew more and more terrified. Her cheeks burned red, and she thought to herself, *Impossible! Impossible! Master wouldn't have said anything!*

***

Shen Luoxi opened her communicator to call Li Chenqian. The device connected, and a 3D projection of Li Chenqian appeared.

"What is it, Luoxi? Why are you calling me?"

Shen Luoxi knelt on one knee: "Master! There is something I must look you in the eyes to ask."

"What is it?"

"I ran into Chu Linfeng!"

"What? Is he at the airport?"

"Yes. I just wanted to ask you, does Chu Linfeng... does he know?"

"Sigh, you can't blame Xiaoxue for this! The boy is too smart; he deduced everything himself. Xiaoxue is just too simple and couldn't hide it, so he managed to confirm it!"

Shen Luoxi’s hands trembled uncontrollably. She forced a show of composure: "Master, it’s fine. He would have known eventually. I just wanted to confirm."

"Luoxi, are you alright? Luoxi? *Beep, beep, beep...*"

On the other end, Li Chenqian stared at the disconnected call and suddenly remembered something. He hurriedly called Li Xiaoxue, but it wouldn't go through. (Li Xiaoxue’s communicator had been smashed by the birds.)

After hanging up, Shen Luoxi sat blankly on the floor. A wave of shame rushed over her, her body shaking uncontrollably. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed, then let out a sky-piercing roar: "Ah!..."

The desolate roar echoed through the empty airport. The staff in the control tower looked at each other, bewildered. For the past month, the Shen Luoxi they knew was a proud goddess—serious, valiant, mature, and resolute. This was the first time they had seen her like this.

After a long while, a voice came over the radio: "Commander... is... is something wrong?"

After a long pause, Shen Luoxi wiped away her tears, stood up, and pressed the radio: "Nothing. Maintain vigilance. Report if there is any situation."

Hearing her voice, the control tower staff breathed a sigh of relief. These were critical times, and the level of the evolved beast circling above was unknown. Their strongest fighter was the Hekui, Shen Luoxi; they absolutely could not afford any slip-ups.

Just as Shen Luoxi was about to walk toward the tower, a message popped up on her communicator from her master: *Luoxi, I will explain the details later. Xiaoxue went out to find Chu Linfeng and is currently unreachable. You must stabilize that boy; don't let him run off. I will arrive as soon as I finish up at the academy.*

Shen Luoxi frowned at the message. How could she have the face to face Chu Linfeng? How could she keep him? Should she use force like she did three years ago? But she had to obey her master’s orders. With no other choice, she braced herself to go find him.

***

In the VIP section of the waiting hall, Tang Xie pouted incessantly: "So unlucky! We were in such a hurry, and now the flight is delayed. When will we ever be able to leave!" Tang Cai consoled her sister: "It's alright. Thanks to our husband's badge, we at least have service and tea here. Let’s wait a little longer. Once the monster flies further away, we can board."

As they were talking, Shen Luoxi stepped over.

Tang Xie nudged her husband’s arm: "Your beautiful teacher is looking at you again."

Chu Linfeng looked up, and their eyes met once more.

"Stop it, can you two stop staring at each other? The look in your eyes is all wrong!" Tang Xie hurriedly blocked Chu Linfeng’s line of sight with her hand.

Tang Xie’s voice was just loud enough for Shen Luoxi to hear. The composure she had just regained nearly shattered again, and she quickly shifted her gaze aside.

"Is there something else?" Chu Linfeng asked, confused.

"Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that in a moment, Master..."

As she spoke, the radio suddenly blared: "Commander, it's bad! The beast is diving! We just checked with binoculars; it’s nearly ten meters long, and its cultivation seems to be above the fifth stage! Please advise... Commander... it’s already coming down! It’s too fast!"

"Quick! Issue a broadcast immediately. All ground personnel are to retreat to the terminal and find cover. Notify passengers to stay away from the windows and forbid them from watching! Also, notify all passengers with cultivation to voluntarily gather in the first-floor hall for coordinated defense. I will be there immediately!"

After speaking, Shen Luoxi looked at Chu Linfeng: "I apologize, the situation is urgent. Wait for me here!"

"Do you need help?" Chu Linfeng asked.

Shen Luoxi, who was about to take flight, paused: "Didn't you lose your cultivation?"

"Oh, I have none, but they do," Chu Linfeng said, pointing at the two girls.

Shen Luoxi scanned them. *Fourth level of the Zhoutian Realm*, she thought. The cultivation is a bit low, but she couldn't care about that now. They would have to serve as reserves.

"Very well. I’ll trouble the three of you to gather on the first floor!" Without waiting for a reply, Shen Luoxi performed a dashing kick-off and flew straight toward the first floor.

"Hey, Chu Linfeng, what do you mean by that? Feeling sorry for your teacher?" Tang Xie asked, pouting with jealousy.

"You silly girl, what time do you think this is? Still acting like a vinegar pot? Didn't you hear the radio? At least a fifth-stage beast. When the world is in peril, every man is responsible; we should help where we can. Besides, if you don't drive that monster away, we'll be stuck here waiting for the Misty Peak to track us down!" Chu Linfeng scolded her, pointing at her nose. It was time to assert his authority as a husband; otherwise, if they called him husband or honey when happy, and used his full name when they weren't, it would be a disaster.

Tang Xie fell silent under the scolding, and the three of them hurried to the first floor.

In the first-floor hall, about a dozen passengers with cultivation had gathered, though their levels were low; the highest was only at the Hanshan Realm. This was normal—who with a Lingkong Realm cultivation would bother taking a commercial flight? They could have flown to their destination in the time it took to wait at the airport.

"Everyone, follow me and the soldiers outside later. But be careful; this beast is powerful. Do not let it target you. I will face the enemy; you only need to help with coordinated defense. If debris from planes or buildings flies toward the terminal during the fight, work with the soldiers to block it so it doesn't harm the passengers!"

Seeing no one respond, Shen Luoxi added: "If you contribute to this defense, I will report it to the Chinese military. I don't need to explain the benefits of that, right?"

"Understood! We follow your command, Commander!" The group followed Shen Luoxi outside.

They hadn't walked far when they saw a giant monster gliding down, blocking out the sky. Two Zhoutian Realm cultivators were instantly terrified and turned back, running into the hall.

Shen Luoxi could only shake her head in frustration. They were just volunteers; if this were the military, they would be deserters, punishable by immediate execution.

Shen Luoxi bowed to the remaining group and glanced at Chu Linfeng. With a flick of her hand, a weapon emerged from her sleeve. It was a telescopic silver spear that Chu Linfeng had seen in the East Sea three years ago. The tip was sharp and slender, and when retracted, it was only a few dozen centimeters long—a marvel of craftsmanship.

With the silver spear in hand, Shen Luoxi took flight in one fluid, graceful motion, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd below! Tang Xie didn't watch; she was busy monitoring Chu Linfeng’s eyes, having already decided that if he looked at Shen Luoxi for more than three seconds, she would give him a slap.

Once in the air, Shen Luoxi pointed the silver spear at the beast. Only when she was close did she see its true form: an eagle’s head, wolf-like eyes, roc’s wings, and a lion’s body, with four claws and scales like a fish. Her heart sank—this was not an evolved species from Earth. Earth’s species had no such hybrid traits; birds only had two wings and two claws. This beast had four claws, like a griffin from legend.

But there was no time to ponder. Regardless of what it was, she had to test it. Shen Luoxi channeled all her true energy into the spear. The tip roared, sparks flying as it rubbed against the air. The silver tip turned red, sounding like a dragon’s roar. Seeing Shen Luoxi charge, the beast shrieked, extended its claws, and dove.

In the blink of an eye, the eagle claw was pierced, and the beast tilted its body, narrowly avoiding a spear thrust aimed at its torso.

Below, the crowd sighed: "Ah! So close!"

Shen Luoxi stabilized herself in the air, and the beast did the same, flapping its wings to hover. Shen Luoxi was secretly shocked. Her full-force strike would have been hard for even a Vajra Realm expert to withstand, yet this beast had taken it head-on, and the pierced claw was still moving. It was fortunate she had reached the fourth level of the Lingkong Realm; had she still been at the first level, as she was when fighting the whale, the spear likely wouldn't have even pierced its skin.

Angered by the minor injury, the beast’s feathers stood on end, vibrating as it shrieked and charged again. Shen Luoxi blocked with her spear, but the beast grabbed the shaft with two claws and struck at her abdomen with the other two. Shen Luoxi retracted her legs, dodging the strike, and then let go of the spear, channeling her energy into her palms to strike the beast.

*Two fists cannot defeat four hands; a girl cannot best a beast.* Shen Luoxi focused on her palm strike, not realizing the beast would rely on its sheer physical toughness to take the hit. It grabbed her arms with its sharp claws. It was too late to withdraw; blood sprayed as the claws sank deep. The beast then swung its wings at her head. Shen Luoxi used the last of her energy to shake off the claws, but she was struck by the wings. Her head buzzed, her mind went blank, and she plummeted from the sky.

She regained consciousness only a hundred meters from the ground, stabilized her descent, and landed. Chu Linfeng and the others rushed over to support her.

"You're injured? Are you alright?" they asked anxiously.

"Look out!" Shen Luoxi pushed them back with a palm of energy. A spear slammed into the ground—the same one the griffin had snatched and thrown away.

Watching the griffin circling above, Shen Luoxi shook her head: "It’s not easy to handle. This beast is already at the sixth stage!"

"Sixth stage? That’s equivalent to the Vajra Realm!" Everyone gasped, sweat soaking their backs.