Chapter 2: Slapped for no reason
[First Person POV]
The moment my eyes landed on Long Chen's face, an inexplicable surge of irritation rose within me. It was strange—almost unnatural. My chest tightened, and my fingers curled slightly, as if preparing for something I couldn't quite grasp. His features weren't particularly offensive, yet just looking at him soured my mood. It was as if some buried instinct, something beyond my understanding, was telling me that I shouldn't like him.
"And yours?"
"Me... you can call me Xu Mo."
I turned my head back to check if the line had decreased. Seeing that it had, I ignored Long Chen and went back to stand in the queue.
"Hey, wait for me." Like an old friend reuniting after years, Long Chen came running to stand right behind me.
"So, Xu Mo, where are you from?"
Murmur, murmur.
"Please, can you remain silent for a minute? Please!" I almost shouted the last words. This guy had been talking incessantly.
I sighed internally. Why had I chosen to drink water from that flask at that time?
"S-Sorry, it's my first time adventuring alone. When I get nervous, I tend to talk a lot." Long Chen innocently brushed the back of his head.
"But I'm the complete opposite—I become silent when I'm nervous. Still, thanks. Because you kept talking, my mind shifted to your words, and I feel less nervous now."
"...Really, Xu Mo? You're such a nice person." Long Chen's eyes turned slightly red. "Even when I was disturbing you by talking nonstop, instead of getting angry, you're thanking me?"
I didn't notice that Long Chen's eyes had reddened because my attention was still on the ongoing test—like students in an oral examination, listening intently to those called before them to get a hint about what was coming.
After picking up tidbits from the people in front, I understood that the test was to determine whether us mortals possessed something called "Dao Resonance."
"Are you curious about what the test is about?" Long Chen poked his head out from behind me.
Hiss!
I instinctively distanced myself. This guy—was he an assassin? Even though I was still a mortal, my sense of hearing had always been sharp.
"Stand back and talk. Do you know about the test?" I signaled for Long Chen to stand at least two feet away from me.
"..." Long Chen closed his eyes for two or three seconds before opening them again. I noticed the rusty ring on his finger. It had intricate patterns, obscured by corrosion.
"Your ring looks old and ancient, but it's nice," I commented.
Long Chen hurriedly covered his fingers and hid the ring. His expression twisted into something almost ferocious. A chill ran through me, as if I had been thrown into an ice cellar. But when I blinked, his expression was back to normal.
"Are you okay?" I asked carefully, studying his face.
"Yes. Sorry if I scared you. This ring holds a special place in my heart, which is why I hate it when others look at or comment on it."
It felt like a made-up excuse, but it wasn't like we were childhood buddies who had to disclose everything to each other.
"Really?" I paused, then suggested, "Then you shouldn't wear it on your finger. You could make it into a locket and wear it around your neck so it remains covered by your garments."
Long Chen's expression brightened at my suggestion.
Ugh!
Long Chen suddenly covered both his ears and bent down, his face directed at the ground.
I quickly checked to see if he was okay.
"Long Chen, what happened? Long Chen?!" I shouted, but a deafening roar drowned my voice.
"What's going on in the back?!"
The voice felt familiar. I looked up and saw the elder, disciples, and hundreds of young aspirants looking in our direction.
One moment, the elder was standing far away—then, in a flash, he appeared in front of me and slapped me hard.
The slap landed with a loud SMACK!, leaving a red imprint behind.
As a result, my neck twisted almost ninety degrees to the right.
Huh?!
I touched the spot where I had been slapped, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
Ah!
The moment my fingers brushed my cheek, a burning sensation flared, and a metallic taste filled my mouth.
Gulp!
I swallowed the blood pooling inside my mouth—I couldn't afford to vomit in front of the elder.
Long Chen, regaining his senses, saw that his first friend—the one he had just made—had been slapped for no reason except for worrying about his well-being. His attention snapped to the elder.
If looks could kill, Long Chen would have slaughtered the elder a thousand times over.
"Why did you slap him?" Long Chen asked, his voice cold, his glare sharp.
Finally, I got a proper look at the elder.
He stood tall, his long white robes flowing like those of a benevolent sage. His face was calm, his eyes filled with patience and wisdom—or so it seemed. Yet beneath that facade lay something far darker—a silent arrogance, a cruelty honed over years of unchecked power. The hand that had just struck me remained steady, without hesitation or remorse, as if my suffering was beneath notice. His lips barely curled, almost amused, as if pain was but a lesson he enjoyed delivering. To the world, he was a righteous guide, but to those who truly saw him, he was nothing more than a tyrant wrapped in virtue.
The elder clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Long Chen calmly.
The sudden slap had shocked the other aspirants.
"Why did the elder suddenly slap him?"
"He's that pervert from before. The elder must have caught him doing something shady."
"What?! Has this guy harassed you before?"
"Yes, he was behind me while we were climbing up, a-and..." She deliberately trailed off, her face flushing red.
I watched as eyes that had been sympathetic just moments ago now glared at me, filled with disgust—like they would do the same if they were in the elder's position.
I looked at the girl who had just accused me. I tried to recall any encounter with her, but nothing came to mind.
She was seeking attention at the cost of ruining my reputation.
Long Chen also looked at me, doubt flickering in his eyes. But then he shook his head and continued glaring at the elder.
"Say, why did you slap Xu Mo?"
"Didn't you hear what that female aspirant just said?" The elder pointed at the woman who had accused me.
"Stop lying. Only when I cried out in pain did you arrive. Without even knowing what happened, you slapped Xu Mo."
The elder smiled, wrinkles forming on his aged face. "So, how will you deal with me? Will you fight me and beat me until I apologize to your friend?"
After taking a pause, elder continued.
"Okay, okay... I just didn't like the disturbance you and your friend were causing."
"It's alright, Elder. I apologize for talking during the test and disturbing everyone else."
Although others had been whispering too, I decided to let bygones be bygones.