As the morning classes concluded, Li Yundong made his usual trip to the cafeteria for lunch. While queuing, he heard Feng Na calling out from behind him, "Li Yundong!"

He turned around with a smile and greeted her.

They both collected their dishes, carried their trays to a table, and sat down. Feng Na smiled, "Oh, right, there was something this morning I forgot to tell you."

Li Yundong ate as he replied, "What is it?"

Feng Na watched him eat; he chewed each bite slowly, thoroughly, before finally swallowing, his movements so refined they seemed uncharacteristic for a man. Curious, she asked, "When did you become so refined when eating?"

Li Yundong paused, realizing he had completely immersed himself in the role of a cultivator, instinctively recalling something Ziyuan had once told him.

He smiled and threw back the words Ziyuan had spoken: "Tell me, why should one chew slowly and carefully?"

Seeing him turn the question back on her, Feng Na flicked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, "Afraid you won't digest it?"

Li Yundong nodded with a slight smile, "Correct, but why wouldn't it digest? Food goes into the stomach, it will eventually be broken down!"

Feng Na countered, "Chewing finer aids the stomach's digestion and the duodenum's absorption!"

Li Yundong raised a finger. "You've only hit on part of it! Come, let me ask you: how does the stomach digest food, and how do the intestines digest food?"

Feng Na answered without thinking, "That's common knowledge! It's through gastric juices and the peristalsis of the stomach and intestines!"

Li Yundong nodded. "Exactly. Gastric juice dissolves some food, and then the friction and compression from the stomach walls break it down. The intestines work similarly. But do you know what drives the peristalsis of the stomach?"

Feng Na pondered for a moment, "Gastric motility?"

Li Yundong laughed, "You watch too many commercials!"

Feng Na smiled, "Then what is it?" She tilted her head in thought, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "Wait, I know—it’s blood?"

Li Yundong nodded. "Correct. And do you know what moves the blood?"

Feng Na admitted defeat, shaking her head. "No idea."

Li Yundong explained, "It's Qi! We speak of 'Qi and Blood'—Qi is the commander of Blood! Without the governance of Qi, Blood cannot go anywhere! Often, when people suffer sudden illnesses like high blood pressure or heart attacks, it's because they suddenly run short of breath, the blood can't be propelled upwards, leading to the acute attack."

Feng Na exclaimed in realization, "Oh, so that's how it is. But what does this have to do with chewing slowly?"

Li Yundong, still preferring a counter-question, asked, "How long can you take a single breath?" As he spoke, he demonstrated an inhaling motion.

Feng Na mimicked the action, inhaling as best she could until she couldn't anymore, then letting out a long breath.

Li Yundong smiled, "Can you inhale indefinitely?"

Feng Na laughed, "How is that possible? No one can inhale forever!"

Li Yundong nodded. "Exactly. So, no matter how much a person has, their Qi is finite! Your breathing is like that, and the Qi inside your body is the same. If you chew your food coarsely, your stomach must exert more effort to digest it. For the stomach to work hard, it must consume more Blood and Qi. When you deplete so much here, other areas get less! Since a person's Qi is limited, this is like robbing Peter to pay Paul! Many people eat hastily when young, and suffer stomach problems when they get older—that's the reason!"

Feng Na stared at Li Yundong, eyes wide, speechless for a long moment.

Li Yundong chuckled, "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

Feng Na clasped her hands in front of her in a gesture of deep respect. "Alright, Immortal Li, I am truly convinced today. You increasingly possess the demeanor of a true master! Before, when Su Chan publicly reprimanded people, she said you taught her medicine. Back then, I was half-believing, but now I am absolutely certain!"

Saying this, Feng Na extended her hand toward Li Yundong and smiled, "Come, Immortal Li, treat this humble woman for a diagnosis!"

Li Yundong let out a loud laugh. "You want a medical diagnosis? You look more like you want your fortune told!"

Feng Na giggled, her eyes twinkling as she smiled slyly, "Then fortune telling would be fine too!"

Li Yundong pointed at Feng Na and laughed, "Which mountain are you worshipping, which Buddha are you appealing to? You’re not sincere at all!" Yet, he adopted a solemn, mock-serious expression. "Do you want to know about your career or your love life?"

Feng Na smiled, "Both!"

Li Yundong scoffed, "My dear petitioner, aren't you being a bit too greedy, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant? Fortune-telling won't work if you aren't sincere!"

Feng Na pouted. "Hmph, I think your skill as a fake immortal, true charlatan, isn't quite enough!"

That sentence actually hit a weak spot for Li Yundong; he genuinely knew nothing about fortune-telling or divination.

Li Yundong coughed dryly and changed the subject. "What was it you needed to talk to me about? Tell me first!"

Feng Na slapped her forehead. "See! All that messing around you caused made me forget! I almost forgot what I needed!"

Li Yundong, in the middle of slowly chewing his food, nearly choked and spat out a mouthful. "Hey, my esteemed petitioner, watch your language, alright?"

Feng Na saw the surrounding students lowering their heads and stifling suppressed laughter. Her cheeks flushed red, but unwilling to yield, she retorted, "You're the one who made the conversation go astray!"

Li Yundong coughed again. "Enough nonsense. Tell me, what is it?"

Seeing Li Yundong concede, Feng Na felt a sudden wave of happiness and giggled, "Actually, it's nothing much. It’s just for the upcoming freshman welcoming ceremony; I need you to come and rehearse with us."

Li Yundong immediately waved his hands. "No, no! You haven't even become Student Union President yet, why should I go? Didn't we agree I'd only go after you won?"

Feng Na gave a sly smile. "I'm definitely going to win, don't worry! If you don't come for even one rehearsal, I'm afraid you’ll get stage fright during the actual performance!"

Li Yundong laughed loudly. "What a joke, if anyone gets stage fright, it certainly won't be me!"

Feng Na clasped her hands in a gesture of entreaty. "Just do me this one favor, please! Even though the welcoming ceremony is mostly for freshmen performances, the upperclassmen have acts too. If our act is too lame, we'll be laughed at!"

Li Yundong hated being pleaded with by pretty girls, especially ones he was on good terms with. He rubbed his forehead and said helplessly, "Ay, tell me what I have to do first!"

Feng Na beamed, "We're putting on a short situational skit!"

Li Yundong asked in surprise, "Oh? That’s novel. What's the play about?"

Feng Na beamed proudly, "The Legend of Sword and Fairy—personally directed and arranged by yours truly!"

Li Yundong sucked in a sharp breath. "Wow, you want the audience to sit through hours of that? That’s a bit long! Which installment? Don't tell me it’s like the worthless sequels, two and three!"

Feng Na scoffed. "Of course, it's the first one! Only the first is truly classic! And it’s just one scene from it!"

Li Yundong smiled. "That’s more like it! Which scene?"

Feng Na smiled. "The scene where the Sword Saint captures Zhao Ling'er."

Li Yundong asked curiously, "Who do I play?" He grew instantly wary as soon as he finished speaking. "Don't tell me I have to play Li Xiaoyao!"

Feng Na giggled, "He shares your surname; wouldn't it be perfect if you played Li Xiaoyao?"

Li Yundong shook his head like a rattle-drum. "Absolutely not! Li Xiaoyao is such a failure—his wife is captured, his lover is killed while following him, and in the end, he’s left alone in desolate solitude. Too much of a loser, too tragic. I won't play him; it’s bad luck!"

Feng Na snorted. "You wouldn't even get the chance to play him! Someone else has already been cast for that role!"

Li Yundong finally relaxed. "That’s a relief. So, who do I play?"

Feng Na snapped her fingers with a loud pa sound. "Who else could it be? Given Immortal Li's skill and bearing, of course, it has to be the venerable Sword Saint himself!"

Li Yundong was torn between laughter and tears. He pointed a finger at his own nose. "Me? Playing the Sword Saint? Is this considered a cameo?"

Feng Na smiled. "If it's not a cameo, what is it?"

Li Yundong said with mixed feelings, "You could get anyone else to play it!"

Feng Na shook her head. "No, no. Looking around the entire school, only you possess that transcendent, aloof, yet cold and stern temperament of the Sword Saint. That kind of aura cannot be acted; even professional actors from the performing arts department lack it! Therefore, this role must be yours!"

Li Yundong stroked his cheek, mimicking the gesture of stroking a beard, and coughed dryly. "Am I truly that outstanding?"

Feng Na put on a stern face and spoke earnestly, "You don't need to doubt it for a second; everything I just said was flattery!" With that, she burst into a fit of giggles herself.

Li Yundong wasn't offended by this and laughed heartily along with her.

As he was laughing, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him: "Li Yundong?"

Li Yundong turned his head and saw Feng Ji, whom he had met once before, standing before him. His gaze was sharp and focused, and he stood with his feet perfectly balanced, knees slightly bent, like a leopard ready to spring and attack.

Li Yundong frowned slightly and asked, "Do you need something from me?"

Feng Ji bowed slightly to Li Yundong. "I heard your martial arts are quite good; I'd like to spar with you!"

Li Yundong smiled. "That must be a misunderstanding from others. I haven't studied martial arts." He then turned away, intending to ignore the young man.

What he said was actually true; Li Yundong had never formally studied martial arts with anyone. He pursued the path of cultivation, tempering his body with external alchemy before entering the Dao through internal alchemy—it bore no resemblance to conventional martial arts.

However, Feng Ji completely refused to believe him. Seeing Li Yundong turn his back and dismiss him, he was instantly furious, believing the other was looking down on him. He swept his eyes around and noticed that the gazes of the surrounding students were mostly focused on him, especially the freshmen who regarded him as a celestial being.

Feng Ji sneered and hissed quietly, "Then I must offend you!"

With that, his figure exploded forward, his five fingers hooking like claws, aiming straight for Li Yundong's shoulder!