Chapter 134: The Battle for the Quota

"Senior Ye, please help me capture this person," Yan Muge said to Ye Zhong.

"Hm?" Shen Qingyun looked completely bewildered. Ye Zhong also arched an eyebrow, looked at Yan Muge, and asked, "Who are you?"

Yan Muge rose from the ground, bowed to Ye Zhong, and said, "Junior Yan Muge, a representative of Tingfeng Academy, here on the orders of our Dean to pay a visit to Zixiao Academy."

After speaking, Yan Muge continued, "Now, may I ask you to apprehend him, Senior?"

Ye Zhong cast his gaze toward Shen Qingyun, his expression as if to say, "How do you think I should handle this?"

"Hey, I already told you that fists and kicks have no eyes. Besides, you were the one who insisted on fighting; why are you now shifting the blame?" Shen Qingyun began to reason.

Yan Muge stared coldly at Shen Qingyun with her beautiful eyes.

Shen Qingyun pursed his lips and gave up. Facts proved that one should not try to reason with a woman; it was impossible to get through.

"This person is not a student of our academy, so it is not appropriate for me to take action against him," Ye Zhong stated.

"He is not a student of Zixiao Academy?" Yan Muge was stunned. She pointed at Shen Qingyun and said, "You really aren't a student of Zixiao Academy!"

Shen Qingyun nodded helplessly and said, "I told you I wasn't, but you didn't believe me."

"You..." Yan Muge paused, suddenly realizing that seemed to be the case. She huffed and said, "Who told you not to keep explaining? Maybe I would have believed you."

"…Heh." Shen Qingyun could only offer a hollow laugh.

"I don't care. You hit me where you shouldn't have—apologize!" Yan Muge demanded sharply.

"Hey!" Shen Qingyun’s eyes widened. Was there any sense of reason left?

"Senior Ye, if you accept him as a student now, would he then be a student of Zixiao Academy?" Yan Muge turned to ask Ye Zhong.

"My conduct is not for a girl like you to dictate," Ye Zhong said, his eyes narrowing slightly before he suddenly chuckled. "However, given the circumstances, I shall grant your request!"

Hearing Ye Zhong agree, Yan Muge puffed out her chest with pride, as if she had won a great battle. "Did you hear that? You are a student of Zixiao Academy now. Apologize to me properly, or I'll have Senior Ye punish you!"

"Shen Qingyun!"

Before Shen Qingyun could respond, a call interrupted him. Everyone pricked up their ears, trying to determine where the voice came from. Perhaps realizing something, the crowd surrounding the Zixiao Academy gate parted, revealing an energetic figure rushing forward.

The figure dashed in, ran up to Shen Qingyun, grabbed his arm, and shook it vigorously. "Shen Qingyun, what is the name of that melody? How did you achieve that kind of artistic conception?"

Shen Qingyun looked in astonishment at Qin Ning, who had completely abandoned her composure. Where was the Princess he knew?

"Hey, who are you?"

Yan Muge looked visibly annoyed. Who was this sudden arrival? She seemed quite close to Shen Qingyun.

"And who are you?" Qin Ning turned, glaring at Yan Muge.

"I..." Yan Muge was left speechless; facing Qin Ning felt like encountering a natural nemesis.

"Ahem."

A soft cough caught Qin Ning's attention. When she looked over, her hair practically stood on end. She quickly released Shen Qingyun's arm and bowed to Ye Zhong. "Disciple Qin Ning pays respects to the Dean. I did not know the Dean was here, and I beg for your forgiveness."

Ye Zhong laughed. "It isn't just this Dean who is here!"

Qin Ning suddenly seemed to wake from a dream. She looked around, and her face turned bright red. She moved closer to Shen Qingyun, hoping to find a sense of security.

Shen Qingyun shook his head helplessly; here came another source of trouble.

Feng Chuxun kept his curious gaze fixed on Shen Qingyun. What exactly had happened while he was away?

Mu Xue hopped down from the carriage, followed by her entourage.

Mu Xue stepped forward and bowed to Ye Zhong. "Junior Mu Xue, on the orders of the Dean of Xiaoqin Academy, is here to pay a visit."

Ye Zhong nodded with a smile, his mind clear. The competition for the slots was about to begin, and the other two academies were finally losing their patience.

"Since those two old fellows sent you here, I assume you are the top talents of your respective generations?" Ye Zhong asked calmly, causing the people of Zixiao Academy to look at Yan Muge and Mu Xue with surprise.

To be the best of a generation required extraordinary ability. Moreover, they were women. Anyone who underestimated them because of their gender would likely suffer a miserable fate.

It was precisely because they were women that they were formidable.

Yan Muge changed her demeanor, and she and Mu Xue spoke in unison: "That is correct!"

"With the top students of the two great academies visiting together, Zixiao Academy should have called out our own top talent to meet you. It is a pity that our top student was defeated by someone else not long ago."

Ye Zhong looked regretful. His voice was not loud, but it caused everyone outside Zixiao Academy to widen their eyes. The top student was defeated? By whom?

As if seeing through their thoughts, Ye Zhong slowly raised his hand and pointed at Shen Qingyun. Everything was left unsaid, yet the answer was clear. The top student of Zixiao Academy had been defeated by an outsider.

Yan Muge was stunned. She turned and walked up to Shen Qingyun, staring intently at him with her beautiful eyes. "You—join Zixiao Academy!"

"No."

Shen Qingyun uttered the word calmly; that was his answer to Yan Muge.

"Join!" Yan Muge stepped closer. She could not accept such an ambiguous defeat.

"How boring," Shen Qingyun said. "Chuxun, let's go."

As he turned, Shen Qingyun realized Feng Chuxun hadn't moved. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Feng Chuxun pointing a finger at his own robe.

Shen Qingyun looked down and saw two slender fingers gripping his fabric.

"Are you leaving?" Qin Ning asked in a low voice.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"..." Shen Qingyun found he had no answer.

"Didn't you say your father sent you here?" Qin Ning looked up at him. "Why leave?"

"I... have things I must do." Shen Qingyun had intended to say that Zixiao Academy wouldn't take him, but the words changed as they reached his lips.

"I still wanted you to teach me how to play the zither. How can you leave?" Qin Ning grabbed his robe with both hands.

Shen Qingyun pursed his lips and scratched his head. The former Emperor Qingyun, in the face of a woman, found himself at a complete loss.

Seeing Shen Qingyun's complex expression, Feng Chuxun spoke up: "Boss, why don't we stay?"

"Chuxun..."

Feng Chuxun turned his head away, expressionless. "What? I happen to like women."

"You rascal," Shen Qingyun laughed and scolded, then turned to Ye Zhong. "Since we are here, both of us wish to enter Zixiao Academy to cultivate."

Ye Zhong stood with his hands behind his back, pretending to be profound, yet to speak. Cheng Feng appeared suddenly, glanced at Ye Zhong, and said, "In the name of the Vice Dean of Zixiao Academy, I approve your entry to cultivate. Choose one of the Seven Palaces of Zixiao to enter!"

Feng Chuxun looked at Shen Qingyun, leaving the decision to him.

Shen Qingyun pondered briefly and said, "We will enter the Fifth Palace!"

"Good!" Cheng Feng nodded, sealing the matter immediately.

"Everyone, disperse."

Yan Muge seemed to have more to say, but Cheng Feng cut her off: "I understand the purpose of your visit. Go back and tell them it will be held as scheduled."

Yan Muge and Mu Xue nodded lightly, leaped onto their carriage, and turned around.

"I will remember you! I won't go easy on you in the competition!" Yan Muge glared at Shen Qingyun, full of resentment.

"Beware, fists and kicks have no eyes," Shen Qingyun replied coolly.

"You... shameless!" Yan Muge's beautiful eyes were practically spitting fire.

"Young Master, I look forward to facing you in the competition," Mu Xue also said to Shen Qingyun.

The group had arrived in a grand procession, and now they departed in the same manner.

"Let's go inside," Shen Qingyun said. He felt a sense of irony; he had disdained entering an academy, yet here he was. Fate truly played tricks on people.

Once all the students had dispersed, Ye Zhong glared at Cheng Feng. "You old man, are you trying to usurp power? You dared to make decisions for me!"

Cheng Feng rolled his eyes at Ye Zhong. "I’ve been watching from the shadows. It was hard enough to see them have a change of heart and want to join the academy. You, on the other hand, were acting all profound—weren't you afraid of driving them away again?"

Ye Zhong looked unbothered and said leisurely, "What is there to fear? Since he has such a close relationship with the girl Qin Ning, can't I just have her chase him back?"

"You, you... let's go discuss the competition for the slots," Cheng Feng sighed helplessly.

With that, their figures slowly faded. The gates of Zixiao Academy returned to silence.

Inside the academy, the ripple that had yet to subside was pushed to even greater heights by the spread of this news.

...

Ye Zhong and Cheng Feng returned to the pavilion. They sat opposite each other; the chessboard was empty, and neither made a move.

Ye Zhong said solemnly, "With the two of them joining, this competition for the slots should be much more favorable for us."

Cheng Feng stated firmly, "The competition will follow the Holy Path model. How shall we select our participants?"

Ye Zhong raised an eyebrow, tapped his finger on the chessboard, and after a long while, said, "Shall we open the Secret Realm?"

"What?" Cheng Feng looked startled, staring at Ye Zhong. "Open the Secret Realm just like that? What about the Internal Academy competition?"

Ye Zhong's eyebrows knit together; the internal competition was indeed a problem.

"I understand your meaning. We cannot continue to focus solely on improving the strength of the Internal Academy students. We must look after the External Academy as well..." Cheng Feng said.

Ye Zhong nodded, his face suddenly looking much older. Balancing the scales was never an easy task. The academy's Secret Realm was meant to enhance the students' cultivation; if it were given to the External Academy, what would the Internal Academy do?

"The Dao Bell rings nine times; a golden age descends. Who knows how many true geniuses lie buried..." Cheng Feng murmured to himself.

Hearing this, a flash of inspiration struck Ye Zhong. He slapped the chessboard, shattering it into pieces. Unbothered, he said with some excitement: "Exactly! That is it!"

Cheng Feng looked miserable. "Being right is fine, but why did you have to smash my chessboard?"

Ye Zhong smiled sheepishly. "You just said the Dao Bell rang nine times, the golden age has come, and talents are emerging. Since they are geniuses, why not let them fight for the opportunity to improve their cultivation themselves!"

"You mean that?" Cheng Feng asked tentatively.

"Yes, that!" Ye Zhong nodded.

"But can you reason with that beast?"

"This... let's try."

Ye Zhong was not entirely sure himself.