Chapter 34: A Demoness on Campus

Chapter 34: A Temptress on Campus

The exchange student delegation had barely arrived before they were struck by an utterly stunning display, which not only shattered the group's composure but also left the accompanying teachers feeling deeply awkward.

While the older faculty members were quick to recover from the "head-on assault" by the Protocol Department, the students were not so fortunate. The male students, in particular, stared with such intensity that they fell into a state of disarray, struggling even to maintain their formation. The female students fared slightly better, though they could not hide glimmers of jealousy. While most of the girls in the delegation were attractive in their own right, the gap between them and the hand-picked, impeccably dressed members of the Protocol Department was stark.

At that moment, Wang Chongguo appeared at the main gate, flanked by the leadership team of Haicheng University.

"Principal William, I’ve been waiting all morning! Finally, you’ve arrived! Welcome, welcome!" Wang Chongguo exclaimed with a triumphant smile, stepping forward to lead the greeting.

A middle-aged man from the delegation hurried forward to meet him, sharing a friendly embrace before speaking in surprisingly fluent Dragon Kingdom dialect. "Principal Wang, it has been a long time! Haicheng University is truly worthy of being one of the top institutions in the Dragon Kingdom. This is my first visit, and I was almost afraid to step through the gate!"

With the two deans meeting face-to-face, the awkwardness of the situation dissipated. After an exchange of pleasantries, Wang Chongguo led the delegation onto campus. Li Zongheng also stepped forward with several members of the Student Union to assist with the reception. After all, the heavy lifting of hosting fell to the Student Union. Given that Wang Chongguo was the dean of the college, it would be beneath his stature to personally handle the reception of every student from Eagle Nation.

As the group strolled slowly into the campus, chatting and laughing, the young women of the Protocol Department followed behind. Yu Shuangshuang, responsible for documenting the visit, trailed at the back of the crowd. She looked highly professional, shouldering a camera and occasionally hovering in mid-air to adjust her position and capture the scene from different angles.

Standing outside the guard room, Qin Zhe watched the crowd drift away with a strange expression. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had spotted Tang Xiaoyou among the Student Union members—and she seemed to be walking quite closely with one of the male exchange students.

"Old Qin, they’re just foreign girls. What’s there to look at?" Gu Ming leaned in, looking unimpressed. "They’ve got nothing but a bit more junk in the trunk. We have so many beauties in our own college; is it really worth all that staring?"

Qin Zhe was left speechless, casting him a wry look. "Who told you I was looking at foreign girls? I just think it’s strange. Why is Tang Xiaoyou in the reception team? She isn't even a member of the Student Union, is she?"

"Tang Xiaoyou? How could she possibly be in the reception team? You must have seen wrong," Gu Ming said, his expression odd. "Besides, she turned you down ages ago. Are you still pining after her?"

Gu Ming glanced at Yu Shuangshuang, who was busy filming in the distance. "You’re really looking far afield for no reason. If you ask me, Shuangshuang is a great catch. Even after you squeezed her like that, she didn't get angry—she’s clearly interested in you. You should put some effort into her instead."

Qin Zhe remained silent, shaking his head and choosing to ignore his roommate, whose mind was constantly preoccupied with such thoughts.

***

By midday, Qin Zhe had finished his two classes in the Martial Arts Department and taken the opportunity to review the list of exchange students.

The delegation consisted of twenty-one people in total, led by Principal William, along with five renowned teachers from Eagle Nation, each of whom held a certain degree of international fame. There were fifteen actual exchange students—nine men and six women—all of whom were young talents meticulously selected from various institutions across Eagle Nation, with cultivation levels generally above the third rank.

The only outlier was Qin Zhe's opponent, James. On the surface, James only possessed a second-rank martial cultivation. However, as a member of the royal family, he wielded significant influence within the group and had even attracted the attention of the Dragon Kingdom's official authorities. To Qin Zhe’s surprise, James was also the Student Union president of the academy under William’s leadership. Of course, compared to the student-led administration of Haicheng University, the Student Union at William’s institution was merely a standard student group.

Since there were no classes scheduled for the afternoon due to the exhibition matches, Qin Zhe packed his things and headed out for lunch. As luck would have it, he had just stepped out of the classroom when he ran into Yao Jing at the other end of the hallway. They both paused, slightly taken aback by the encounter.

"Did you calculate the time to know I was coming?" Yao Jing asked with a smile, leaning against the wall with one hand on her slender waist as she approached.

"No, I was just heading to the canteen for lunch and happened to bump into you," Qin Zhe said, pulling himself together. "Minister Yao, it’s still lunch break. Why are you looking for me so early? Is the exhibition match about to start?"

"Not yet, it starts at two. But as hosts, we have to make some preparations," Yao Jing said. A surge of demonic energy rippled from her hand, and a unique uniform appeared. "Here, this was specially tailored for the exhibition match. Remember to change into it after you eat and head to the arena. There are five matches in total—two for the Immortal path, two for the Demonic path, and one for the Martial path. You’re the protagonist for the only martial arts match, so make sure you put on a good show."

"Understood. Thanks for bringing me the uniform," Qin Zhe said, accepting it while taking a moment to look her over. It had to be said that when Yao Jing was acting serious, she was quite impressive, carrying the aura of a goddess from head to toe. Unfortunately, she had a penchant for chaos, and no one ever knew what kind of trouble she might stir up next.

Sure enough, noticing Qin Zhe’s appraisal, Yao Jing suddenly puffed out her chest. "What? Do you have a crush on me?"

"That’s not it," Qin Zhe replied with a faint smile, internally regretting his curiosity as he lowered his head to leave.

"Don't rush off! Explain yourself—what do you mean 'that’s not it'?" Yao Jing grabbed his sleeve, asking with a playful smile. "Do you think I’m inferior to Liu Qingzhi in some way, or do you have a problem with me?"

"My dear Minister Yao, how could I possibly have a problem with you?" Qin Zhe replied with a bitter laugh, feeling a headache coming on. One moment she was fine, and the next, she was acting completely erratic.

"Who is your 'Minister Yao'? Even if you wanted to join our News Department, I wouldn't want you!" Yao Jing retorted, her lips curling upward. "If you don't give me a clear answer today, I won't let you off the hook. Unless, of course, you’re willing to treat me to a meal. I’ve been following the Student Union president around hosting these exchange students all morning; I’m exhausted and starving."

*Damn it.* She was being this petty just to score a free meal? She was a department head, for heaven's sake! Did she have to be so cheap? Qin Zhe sighed, helpless against her persistence. "Fine, fine! I’ll treat you to a meal! Shall we go to the canteen now?"

"It’s rare for me to grace you with the opportunity to treat me, and you have the nerve to suggest the canteen?" Yao Jing looked at him with disdain, pulling him toward the stairwell as she chuckled. "Let’s go! Since we have time, let’s grab a taxi to Haicheng Plaza. If I don't bleed your wallet dry, it won't make up for my wounded feelings!"