Chapter 29: Summons from the Dean

Chapter 29: The Dean’s Summons

The sudden suspension of the academy examinations ignited quite a stir within Haicheng University. There are no airtight walls in this world; news that Dean Wang Chongguo had personally ordered the halt spread rapidly, and almost everyone was busy speculating about what had actually occurred.

The event’s popularity was unexpectedly high. The news of Liu Botao being dismissed and handed over to the Inspection Bureau, which hadn’t even had a chance to become a hot topic, was completely eclipsed. Nowadays, ninety percent of the discussions on the academy forum were centered on the turmoil within the secret realm.

Faced with this shift in public opinion within the academy, Qin Zhe was quite pleased. In just a few days, topics related to him had almost vanished from the forum, and even the influence of the headlines in the academy newspaper had dissipated into thin air. Worthy of note was that the academy had sealed off all information regarding the Cold Moon Secret Realm. Even though Qin Zhe had been caught up in the incident and could be considered at the core of the events, the academy seemed to have completely forgotten him; no one had come looking for him at all. Regarding this, Qin Zhe maintained a "not my business, keep a high profile" optimistic mindset and didn't care in the slightest.

That day, after listening to the final martial arts lecture with great interest, Qin Zhe pulled out a red fruit and took a bite, then turned to look at Gu Ming in the back row.

"Old Gu, you free today? I want to head out and buy a cell phone."

"Can't you go buy a phone by yourself? Do you really need me to accompany you?" Gu Ming yawned, pretending not to notice that someone was munching on a spirit fruit as if it were an ordinary snack. After several days, he had grown accustomed to this person’s near-extravagant behavior. Qin Zhe was generous, sharing half of his spirit fruits with him—all of which were of great help to his martial arts cultivation. Given the current situation where he had more spirit fruits than he could eat, Gu Ming cherished them deeply. While working hard to cultivate, he tried to absorb the effects of every single fruit to avoid waste. Therefore, in Gu Ming’s eyes, the way Qin Zhe ate them was simply a travesty! To finish a spirit fruit without practicing to channel the energy was a total waste of its various properties!

Qin Zhe was unaware of Gu Ming’s opinion on his fruit-eating habits, and even if he did know, he wouldn't care. He had been snacking on fruits for days, nearly forgetting what meat tasted like, yet his "Essence Conversion" talent had only reached 2%. It was truly difficult to make him take these fruits—which were only beneficial to martial artists—seriously. After all, at this rate, even if he ate all the remaining fruits, and even took the ones Gu Ming had hidden away to snack on, he would only gain less than 10% progress.

Seeing that Gu Ming was unwilling to accompany him, Qin Zhe extended a warm invitation. "It's rare to have free time today, why don't we two brothers go wander around?"

"Not going. I have to go to the academy’s martial arts field to train in a bit!" Gu Ming was exceptionally firm, organizing his belongings as he spoke. "Besides, since when do two grown men go shopping together? If you’re feeling lonely, why don't you find a girl? You were famous a while back; even though that's passed, it shouldn't be hard to ask a girl out! Have some confidence in yourself!"

"Fine! If you won't go, forget it. I'll go by myself!" Qin Zhe shook his head and stood up to walk out of the classroom. He had wanted to drag Gu Ming along mainly because he wasn't familiar with the area outside the academy and was afraid of getting lost. Since Gu Ming wasn't willing, he couldn't be bothered to force him. As for asking a girl out, he naturally had no such intentions. For one, other than Gu Ming, he didn't even recognize anyone in the classroom. Secondly, the whole academy knew he was practicing the True Self Heart Scripture; what girl would be foolish enough to get close to him?

Secretly bidding farewell to Yu Shuangshuang, who was currently God-knows-where, Qin Zhe had just stepped out of the classroom when he saw a charming beauty walking toward him. At the first glance of the person, Qin Zhe gave a start and decisively turned back, attempting to shrink into the classroom. Unfortunately, he was a step too slow; the beauty reached out, grabbed his collar, and hauled him back.

"Hey! Why are you hiding from me? I don't eat people!"

"No, Director Yao, I was just afraid of blocking your path, that's all," Qin Zhe chuckled sheepishly, raising his hand to pat the delicate hand on his collar, signaling her to let go. The visitor was none other than Yao Jing, the Director of the News Department, whom he had met once in the secret realm.

Being grabbed by a breathtakingly beautiful woman at the classroom entrance and acting so intimately immediately drew the gaze of many male students in the room. In terms of looks, Yao Jing was on par with Liu Qingzhi. Furthermore, her every movement exuded the aura of a peerless enchantress, which held a fatal attraction for most men—how could she not draw attention? If not for Yao Jing wearing the iconic uniform of the Demon Arts Department, many would likely have already been whispering.

Inside the classroom, Gu Ming also noticed Qin Zhe being grabbed. However, he, usually a loyal friend, sat rigidly in his seat, looking at nothing but his own nose, fully managing to ignore the affairs of the outside world.

Compared to Liu Qingzhi, Yao Jing, the Director of the News Department, had an enchantress-like temperament but was relatively low-key; few people recognized her in person. However, Gu Ming did recognize Yao Jing; after all, they would occasionally run into each other at plenary meetings—it was hard not to recognize her! At this moment, Gu Ming couldn't have been more impressed with Qin Zhe. It was one thing for this kid to inexplicably get close to the high-and-mighty Director, but he had actually hooked up with the Director of the News Department as well! With one after another being academy goddesses, this guy was going to defy the heavens!

At the classroom entrance, Yao Jing caught sight of the many people watching and, for the sake of appearances, begrudgingly gave Qin Zhe some face by releasing his collar. She said, "Hey, don't give me any of that glib talk. I came here specifically to find you; otherwise, do you think I have nothing better to do than sightsee in the Martial Arts teaching building?"

"Looking for me?" Qin Zhe feigned an expression of surprise and coughed. "Director Yao, we don't seem to be that close, do we? You looking for me... it couldn't be that you want to interview me, right?"

"Interview your head. Who do you think you are that I would come personally to interview you? If I wanted an interview, wouldn't it be easier to just have Shuangshuang come over?" Yao Jing spat out carelessly, gestured for him to follow her, and turned to leave. Qin Zhe didn't have the chance to say, "Please, by all means, have Yu Shuangshuang ‘delivered to my door’." Seeing her sway her waist as she walked away, he could only follow helplessly.

Before long, the two arrived at a relatively secluded corner of the Martial Arts teaching building and stood still.

"I came looking for you this time mainly to pass on a message from Dean Wang," Yao Jing began, her eyes, faintly tinged with charm, fixed on him. "Originally, it should have been Liu Qingzhi coming to find you, but she’s been on leave for the past few days. Since the Dean couldn't find anyone else familiar with you, he had me come instead."

"The Dean is looking for me?" Qin Zhe was startled, frowning as he waited for the rest.

"Yes. A group of exchange students from the Eagle Kingdom will be arriving tomorrow," Yao Jing said, leaning against the wall and speaking lazily. "The academy will be holding an exchange tournament, and the Dean wants you to step up as a representative of the Martial Arts Department to compete and spar with the exchange students."