Shen Hong's countenance was a stormy sea of wrath as he beheld Alex, his fingers clutching the coveted Qi core of the vanquished Shadowclaw.
A flare of rage ignited his visage, painting it a crimson hue, but with a herculean effort, he managed to regain his composure, the fiery anger fading from his complexion yet still smoldering in the depths of his eyes.
With a voice as cold as a winter's breeze, Shen Hong addressed Alex, "This is of no concern to me, the Qi core is yours to keep," his teeth gritted with concealed fury with every uttered word.
Not long before, as Alex had engaged in a desperate fray with the formidable Shadowclaw, Shen Hong had arrived at the scene with Xiao Se.
Their strategy had been simple and cunning: wait for Alex to falter under the beast's onslaught, swoop in with a timely rescue, and parade themselves as paragons of virtue before Wu Lina.
Such a display would surely endear them to her heart while they would simultaneously appear as saviors to the weaker disciples.
However, their calculated machinations had crumbled to dust.
Against all odds, Alex, a cultivator of lesser prowess, had wounded the mid-stage lesser Qi beast with a single strike, and to their disbelief, was on the brink of a decisive victory.
Their initial strategy having failed, Shen Hong opted for a more direct approach.
Their desire to accompany Alex on this mission had been a ruse to suppress him, a retaliation for his audacious lustful look towards Wu Lina.
By demonstrating their superiority over Alex, they sought to dissuade others from attempting to win Wu Lina's heart, under the threat of their combined fury.
Shen Hong released his arrow, hoping to snatch the beast's core and present himself as a just hero.
Yet, fate was not on his side. Alex not only secured the Qi core but also managed to tarnish their reputations in front of Wu Lina.
Alex, on hearing Shen Hong's begrudging concession, unveiled a smile.
Retrieving a small pouch strapped to his waist, he carefully placed the Qi core within, casting a triumphant glance towards Shen Hong and Xiao Se before striding towards Wu Lina's location.
Chen Wei, having completed his reconnaissance of the area, stood silently observing the skirmish between Alex and the duo.
Zhang Jie and the other inner sect disciple, whose name Alex did not know, had also reached the scene, silently watching the unfolding drama.
As Alex walked past the duo, their glares filled with killing intent, Alex ignored them as he began to walk towards the designated camping area, he heard the sound of footfalls approaching. Without needing to turn, he knew whom they belonged to.
Chen Wei's voice, full of admiration, reached his ears, "Incredible! Who would have thought you'd hold your own despite your modest cultivation level?" Alex paused to behold Chen Wei's beaming face, a smile of genuine delight spread across his plump features.
Alex scrutinized Chen Wei, his gaze piercing like a hawk, but eventually chose to cast him aside, resuming his stride.
Chen Wei, however, was relentless, doggedly tailing Alex, his curiosity unquenched. "To think you dared to seize his kill, and even snatch the Qi core," he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the brisk air.
Alex, upon hearing this, ceased his steps abruptly, pivoting to confront Chen Wei.
His voice, cold as a winter's breeze, pierced through the silence. "Steal? No. I had dealt a lethal blow to the shadowclaw, it was at death's door before he even loosed his arrow," he retorted, before turning on his heel, and resuming his path.
Chen Wei's expression contorted, a look of disbelief etched on his face as he processed Alex's claim.
After a moment of thought, he sprinted after Alex, his laughter ringing through the air. "You, with your meager cultivation, injured a middle-stage lesser Qi beast? Surely, you jest," he jeered, casting a dubious look at Alex.
Alex sighed a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Always about my low cultivation level," he mumbled to himself.
He chose not to respond to Chen Wei's skepticism, aware that his words would fall on deaf ears. After all, Chen Wei hadn't been present when he had struck the near-fatal blow to the shadowclaw.
To him, there was no point in explaining - Chen Wei would only scoff at his words, blinded by his prejudiced view of Alex's cultivation level.
Unfazed by Alex's silence, Chen Wei advanced, a mischievous grin spread across his face. "So, you're a fan of Wu Lina as well? I thought you didn't care for her," he probed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alex froze in his tracks at Chen Wei's words, surprise etched on his face. Chen Wei, unable to stop in time, crashed into Alex.
Alex whirled around to face Chen Wei, shock evident in his eyes. "What on earth are you speaking of? Wu Lina's adorer? Explain yourself," he demanded, his voice shaking slightly.
Chen Wei shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's obvious, isn't it? Your feud with Shen Hong and Xiao Se can only be due to Wu Lina," he explained, his tone teasing.
Alex's eyes widened further, shock giving way to understanding.
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place - his spat with Xiao Se and Shen Hong had led Chen Wei to believe that he coveted Wu Lina.
Given that Wu Lina was the object of every Cloud Moon Sect disciple's affection, any man close to her was met with jealousy, which often matured into resentment.
Alex had been on the receiving end of such hatred before.
Chen Wei, he realized, had mistaken his conflict with Xiao Se and Shen Hong as stemming from jealousy, just like the other male disciples of the Cloud Moon Sect.
A bemused smile played on Alex's lips as he shook his head. "This guy's shamelessness knows no bounds," he mused, chuckling to himself.
With a dismissive wave, Alex turned around, leaving Chen Wei behind as he continued towards the campsite.
He heard Chen Wei's footsteps and murmurs trailing but he chose to ignore them.