43 Deep in the Friend Zone

Wang Zhinu stood tall, her hair hung down to her slender waist. Many of the present male disciples could not help but drool as they entered a primal state of being in the presence of such a beauty. Hun Lian walked over to stand next to her, she moved her hands into the air like a salesman would a featured item.

"Big sister Wang is one of the famed beauties of the Skyward Sword Sect. She and big sister Chu's childhood friend as well. She is a prodigy that is skilled in cultivation and the Dao of Medicine. Big sister Wang is also the Skyward Sword sect's most popular physician and alchemist. Grandpa Wang hardly ever mentions her, but he dotes on her the most and supports her from the shadows."

Wang Zhinu approached Chu Fan and placed her hands on her waists and bent over, placing her face in front of Chu Fan's. The view that Chu Fan had was one that Da Bao, Tian Han, and any other man would have envied; presented to him were too jiggling fruits that looked ripe for the picking. Tempting in their nature, she purposefully allowed Chu Fan this opportunistic view that he might never forget for the rest of his life. Wang Zhinu knew what she was doing and loved to tease her fellow disciples that could never dream of touching her body as much as they touched themselves in private.

*Gulp* Chu Fan began to sweat as he felt everyone's glares, daring him to look up at the promised land that many had dreamed to get a glimpse of. However, there were too particular glares that felt as cold as steel, waiting for the right moment to get a clean and precise cut if Chu Fan dared to look up. His body and mind were currently at odds, he was currently fighting a civil war with three factions: his gentlemanly morals and values, perverse and pubescent desires, and his bodily functions. He bent himself forwards while looking everywhere but there; he finally resolved to stare into Wang Zhinu's pupils and not blink. She tapped him on the forehead and folded her arms together as she stood up straight while maintaining eye contact with Chu Fan.

"Junior Chu Fan, it's not good to lie to your fellow disciples. There is no such thing as Gourmet Elixirs. Foods, in no way, can give the same benefits that pills and elixirs that are carefully refined by alchemists."

Chu Fan took a step back and looked at Wang Zhinu with a bit of contempt. He didn't like such conservative ways of thinking; such a mysterious and grand world that allowed humans to surpass mortality would never be bound by dumb and simple rules. He knew she was smarter than this, but it pained him to see a person who sought the Dao of Medicine to limit themselves.

"What do you mean? Cooking and Alchemy have many things in common. The only difference is the product of each process. Who says that foods are not able to replicate or even give better results? Is there a law that dictates whether or not ingredients are only to be used in refinement and not in cooking? A closed off train of thought will only limit your insights in your pursuit of the Dao of Medicine itself."

Everyone gasped in shock, Chu Fan was right. Hearing such a bold thought, Wang Zhinu also took a step back as she thought over the child's words. She pondered for many seconds before shaking her head of such puzzling thoughts and possibilities.

"Okay. If you are so bold as to have such beliefs, then prove it to me. In one weeks time, we shall have a duel. We'll compete over who can best bring out the effects of these medicinal ingredients."

Ye Qing walked over to her and tried to calm her down, but he was swiftly pushed aside. He did not expect the two to be so fierce towards each other when he asked her to meet Chu Fan. Chu Fan was angry at this point, he just had to prove to this, close-minded genius, that her way of thinking was wrong. He stuck his hands out.

"Okay! Deal. Give me the list of ingredients. I shall prove to you in one weeks time, that your alchemy is no better than my cooking."

Wang Zhinu grabbed Chu Fan's hand and the two shook on it. Chu Fan had brought out the other party's anger and competitive nature. Wang Zhinu rushed over to a nearby table and started writing with a pen and paper she took out from her spatial ring.

"Hmph! Here! You better not back out, lest you want to be forever known as a fraud."

She turned around and stormed out of the Cafeteria leaving Ye Qing behind. He was in a perplexed state, he wanted to follow her and console her, but he felt that he owed Chu Fan another apology.

"Chu Fan.... I..Uh..Hm. I'm sorry for how Wang Zhinu has acted."

Chu Fan waved his hands, he never blamed Ye Qing for any of this.

"Ah, no problem. I think the situation would have ended up like this regardless of your bet. You must really care about her though. Your desire to run after her and console her is admirable."

Ye Qing blushed and scratched his head.

"Haha, was I that obvious? We've known each other ever since I came to the sect as a child. I was a mere orphan, brought to the sect after her father saved me from a gang of unorthodox cultivators that wished to experiment on me. If it weren't for the sect, I would have lived a torturous life and ultimately ended up a mere fighting puppet. I came to the sect with nothing, my life was colorless before I met her. She alone, gave my life a new purpose. I live to see her full of happiness, and to protect her from any bit of sadness and sorrow."

He went about his ranting. Most of the disciples had already dispersed as they were late for class, Chu Fan's friends also followed suit. Da Bao and Tian Han gave their sworn brother a pat on the shoulder before leaving. Yao Lingyan and Hun Lian also left a bit after, leaving Chu Fan and Ye Qing behind.

"To be honest, I don't have high hopes of her feeling the same way as I do. It seems that in the past month, she has been exchanging poems from Xin Hai. How could I compete with senior brother Xin Hai? Everyday, she mentions him to me. It pains my heart to hear his name as she praises his poeticism. In a desperate bid for her attention, I mentioned your 'Gourmet Elixirs' as a distraction. And in the hopes of me having at least one night of romance with her, I wagered a night out during the Festival of Unrequited Love. At least, I would be content with letting her fall into the embrace of another man after that."

Hearing Xin Hai's name, Chu Fan was inspired to behead that cock before it could crow. He grabbed Ye Qing by the hand and looked up at the somber man who was on the verge of tears. He knew and understood too well the emotions that Ye Qing felt.

"Don't worry senior brother. I've got this,just believe in me. The little cupid has got your back. Your just deep in the friend zone; and I've got just the perfect plan for that."

Ye Qing looked down at Chu Fan with a puzzled expression.

"Friend zone? What's that? A dimensional rift?"

Chu Fan shook his head.

"Don't sweat the details. Let's just say that Wang Zhinu's gotten too comfortable with you; and she's simply forgotten to consider you as a potential suitor. What we need to do is rebuild you as an individual. After this, she'll be chasing you; no longer will you be going the other way around."

Ye Qing was intrigued he moved in closer to Chu Fan.

"And how will we be doing that."

Chu Fan held a smirk on his face, he held his index finger up in the air and twirled it around.

"Mind games. In this week, we'll be killing two birds with one stone."

"I hope you don't take it too far. If she gets hurt, you will have to answer for your actions. I won't forgive you or hold back in my execution of punishment."

Chu Fan did not care, he had escaped those kinds of situations before. Such threats no longer worked on Chu Fan. He rubbed his hands together like a mad scientist.

"Mwahaha! The show has just barely begun, senior brother Ye Qing. Just do as I say, no questions."