Chapter no.42 Plans

[ Narrative Point Detected ]

[ Select from the following ]

[ 1- Kill Shen Xiu ]

[ 2- Court Shen Xiu ]

Nie Li couldn't help but feel the weight of the decision before him.

The lure of upgrading his combat style was too tempting to pass up, but the risk of killed by Shen Xiu like last time was a real concern.

As Shen Xiu began her lecture, her voice a melodious yet stern cadence in the background, Nie Li's thoughts wandered.

He pondered over his options, each plan forming and dissolving like mist in his mind.

Plan A: Repeat my old stunt, but this time, just ask for a rain check on the bet.

Sounds easy, right?

Nie Li mused to himself.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was a bad idea.

"No way, that's like apologizing for stepping on someone's foot by stepping on the other one. When I try to court her she'd never go for it after being publicly embarrassed."

Then came Plan B.

Stay quiet, like a mouse.

But wait, what if the system throws a curveball?

It's like trying to guess the next move in a game where the rules keep changing.

Nie Li scratched his head, feeling the pressure mount.

Plan C seemed even less appealing.

Bolt out of the class? Great, then I'll be 'Nie Li, the guy who ran away'. Plus, with Shen Xiu's pride, she'd probably take it as an insult that I left during her lecture.

He imagined her furious face and shuddered.

It's like choosing between a rock and a hard place.

He sighed, feeling stuck.

What now? It's like I'm trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces.

He sighed, his gaze drifting to Lu Piao, who was feigning sleep with a comical seriousness.

"Lu Piao, what are you doing?" Nie Li asked, half-amused.

"Making bread, you want some?" Lu Piao replied, his voice muffled behind his hands.

Nie Li was about to respond when a spark of inspiration hit him.

Lu Piao's absurdity, in a way, was the answer.

"Lu Piao, you are a genius," Nie Li exclaimed, a plan forming in his mind.

Lu Piao peeked out from his hands, a confused but intrigued look on his face.

"Of course, I am. Wait, what did I do?"

Nie Li didn't respond.

[ Selection Confirmed: Player Nie Li has chosen Option 2 - Court Shen Xiu. ]

[ Process: Simulating mission parameters and narratjve development. ]

[ Mission Generation: Initiated ]

[ Mission: Love and Betrayal ]

[ Mission Type: Semi ]

[ Objective: Court Shen Xiu ]

[ Reward: AI Combat Style ]

[ Warning: This mission encompasses multiple potential pathways. Player will be presented with choices for path selection. ]

In the moment the system notification appeared, Nie Li executed a rather unconventional plan.

With a swift, self-inflicted strike to his chin, he sent his brain into a momentary whirlwind.

The world spun, and before he knew it, darkness enveloped him as he collapsed to the desk, unconscious.

....

The classroom fell into a mix of reactions when Nie Li suddenly ended up on the floor, unconscious.

A few students couldn't help but chuckle, some remained indifferent, and most were just plain confused.

Shen Xiu was among the confused ones, her eyes narrowing as she watched the scene unfold.

She had been keeping an eye on Nie Li, considering him a potential recruit for the Sacred Family, but now she was beginning to question his mental state.

Turning her attention to Lu Piao, Shen Xiu asked sharply, "You there, what happened?"

Lu Piao could only offer a shrug in response, clearly as baffled as everyone else.

Shen Xiu sighed, her frustration evident. "Useless," she muttered under her breath. Then, louder, she instructed the class, "Open to page 1 and start reading your textbooks. I'll take Nie Li to the infirmary."

As she approached Nie Li, Shen Xiu reached down to grab his arm but paused.

It was then that she heard a voice offering help.

Looking up, she found Lu Piao's gaze on her chest, causing her irritation to flare.

"Stand in the corner," she growled, and Lu Piao, understanding his mistake, quickly moved away.

With Nie Li in tow, Shen Xiu made her way to the infirmary.

There, she was greeted by one of the Sacred Family's many spies within the Holy Orchid Institute.

"Young miss, what can I do for you?" the school physician asked, her smile polite yet professional.

"Check this boy's cultivation and physique," Shen Xiu ordered.

The physician complied, placing her hand on Nie Li's temple and sending a pulse of soul force into him before retracting her hand.

She looked up in shock.

"3-star Bronze rank Demon Spiritualist," she exclaimed.

"Good, I was making sure I wasn't hallucinating," Shen Xiu responded gravely.

The physician's surprise turned into admiration.

"Congratulations, Miss. The elders will be pleased with you for uncovering such hidden talent."

"No, he was already on the red recruitment list," Shen Xiu corrected, causing the physician's eyes to widen in shock.

The red list was reserved for targets that the Sacred Family considered crucial, to be recruited or eliminated by any means necessary.

"He was designated under the talent 'Soul Wings'," Shen Xiu added, sending another wave of shock through the physician.

"Soul Wings, and a 3-star Bronze rank at such a young age? His talents rival those of Ye Mo," the physician murmured, clearly nervous. She then made a bold suggestion, "Miss, do you want me to seduce this young man into joining the Sacred Family?

I am sure, I can cement the idea of the older beauty falling for the younger man and snare him into an arranged marriage."

Shen Xiu's frown deepened.

"Which branch are you from?" she asked coldly.

"The Ming branch," the spy replied.

Shen Xiu's irritation was palpable.

The Ming branch was part of Elder Shen Ming's faction, and she had no intention of letting them claim Nie Li's talent.

"No need. I've already made plans with my brother, the Patriarch," she stressed the title, "on what to do with this one. Your job is to stay in your lane and do your job."

The spy nodded, understanding her place, and Shen Xiu left the infirmary with a plan forming in her mind and a coy smile on her face.

....

As Nie Li regained consciousness, feeling the unwelcome splash of water on his face, he opened his eyes to see Lu Piao grinning down at him, bottle in hand.

"What's with the grin, you lovesick puppy?" Nie Li groaned, wiping his face.

Lu Piao's gaze shifted slyly towards the school's physician, a vision of beauty checking her notes.

"Just appreciating the scenery."

Lu Piao said, staring at the older woman's exposed, bare back; it was as if the woman was deliberately trying to catch the attention of hormonal teens.

"So, did Cupid's arrow hit its target, or did you shoot yourself in the foot again?"

Lu Piao's grin widened.

"Let's just say I'm working on my bedside manners."

Nie Li chuckled.

"By pretending to care about health? That's like a cat pretending to be vegan."

Lu Piao shrugged.

"Hey, you gotta use what you got. And right now, I've got a charming smile and a fake illness."

Nie Li shook his head, amused.

"You didn't even try to help me, did you? Just saw an opportunity and took it."

Lu Piao's smile faltered, but only for a moment.

"Well, you seemed pretty comfortable on the desk. I didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep."

"That's rich, coming from someone who uses 'I might be contagious' as a pickup line," Nie Li shot back, sitting up.

Lu Piao laughed.

"Hey, it's about making a lasting impression. Besides, you're not exactly Mr. Smooth yourself."

Nie Li smirked.

"I'll have you know, I'm as smooth as a polished gem. You're more like a rough diamond – in desperate need of some polishing."

Lu Piao feigned offense.

"I'll have you know, I'm a rare gem in the rough. Just wait and see."

Nie Li stood up, stretching.

"Yeah, a rare gem with the luck of a black cat crossing a path under a ladder."

Nie Li gulped as he saw the physician winking at him.

A woman advancing on him, that's new.

Nie Li gave the physician a polite nod.

"Come on, let's get out of here before your 'charm' causes a real medical emergency," Nie Li said, leading the way out.

Lu Piao followed, still grinning.

"You know, for someone who hit his own chin and passed out, you're awfully cheeky."

Nie Li laughed.

"It's a gift. Now, let's go before you start diagnosing yourself with love sickness."

Lu Piao's smile was sly as he dangled the news like a carrot.

"Speaking of self-diagnosis, Shen Xiu's about to diagnose you with a severe case of expulsion."

Nie Li sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Any idea where she is?"

"In the teacher's lounge. It's 3 'shichen' now, so evening," Lu Piao said, glancing at the sky through the window.

Nie Li frowned.

"You think she's still there?"

Lu Piao nodded.

"She told me to tell you to find her, or next time you wake up, it'll be in the principal's office."

Nie Li's eyebrows shot up.

"She's that mad?"

"Furious. Your little stunt cut her first class short. You're officially on her hit list," Lu Piao said, barely hiding his amusement.

"Great, just the start I needed," Nie Li muttered sarcastically. He turned to the physician.

"Can I go?"

The physician nodded, and Nie Li started to rise, but not before catching Lu Piao's latest attempt at flirting.

"Miss, I think I might be contagious," Lu Piao said with a dramatic flair.

The physician raised an eyebrow.

"With what exactly?"

"With love," Lu Piao declared, his grin as wide as the Cheshire Cat's.

Nie Li bit his lip to hold back laughter. The physician, however, didn't miss a beat. "I think I have just the cure for that," she said, reaching into her pocket.

Both Nie Li and Lu Piao leaned in with curiosity. The physician pulled out a small knife.

"It's called 'rejection,'" she quipped.

Nie Li burst out laughing as he made his escape, leaving Lu Piao to deal with his 'diagnosis.'

Outside, the cool evening air did little to ease Nie Li's worry about facing Shen Xiu. He muttered to himself, "From infirmary to inferno, my day just keeps getting better."

Back in the infirmary, Lu Piao, still holding his ground, tried another angle.

"Are you sure that's the right cure? I was hoping for something more... tender."

The physician smirked. "Tender? The only tender thing here will be your bruised ego."

Lu Piao shrugged, undeterred. "Can't blame a guy for trying. After all, love is the greatest adventure."

...

[ Author's Note: Hey readers! Just a quick note to explain what 'shichen' means. In ancient China, time was measured a bit differently than what we're used to. A 'shichen' is a traditional Chinese time unit that equals about two hours in today's time. So when I mention it's 3 'shichen' in the story, it's like saying it's late afternoon or early evening, according to ancient Chinese timekeeping. It's a cool little historical tidbit that adds some authenticity to our story's setting! Keep this in mind as you follow Nie Li's adventures!