Chapter 36: Praising the Designer

Qin Zhe sat upright, offering a faint smile at Yao Jing’s complaints without offering any comment.

It had to be said that for a "seductress" capable of wreaking havoc upon the world, she seemed to lack a certain necessary self-awareness. The girls in the protocol department were indeed beautiful and possessed great figures, and four of them were even demonic cultivators. But compared to a monster like her, they fell far short. James had a unique status, and among a crowd of beauties, he would naturally set his sights on the best—otherwise, how could he demonstrate his uniqueness?

As Qin Zhe pondered this, Yao Jing straightened up and glared at him. "Hey, I’m talking to you. How come you don’t even bother to respond?"

"Ahem!" Qin Zhe cleared his throat and replied, "I think it’s not strange at all that James took a liking to you. On the contrary, it proves he has good taste. Minister Yao, you are as beautiful as a celestial being; what man could possibly resist you?"

"Oh my, I didn’t think you were such a smooth talker," Yao Jing said, beaming with a look of satisfaction. "But it’s a pity! You aren't my type, especially since you’re the one Liu Qingzhi has her eye on. If that woman really loses her temper, it’s no small matter. I wouldn't dare compete with her! Let’s stop talking about this and order our food."

Qin Zhe shook his head, having developed a certain immunity to Yao Jing’s nonsense. Having once been a working professional, he was well-versed in interpersonal relationships. Dealing with a difficult character like Yao Jing wasn't actually hard, provided one didn't follow her lead.

Ultimately, the lunch concluded after Qin Zhe tearfully parted with half his "family fortune." Although Yao Jing had promised to keep the bill under three thousand, she hadn't stopped eating once she started, and they ended up ordering quite a bit more. Qin Zhe felt a bit of internal injury from the expense, but there was nothing to be done. After all, a man couldn't very well tell a woman to eat less just because he was worried about the price. It was worth mentioning that the food in the Land of Abundance was indeed unique and had a distinct flavor. They even incorporated ordinary spirit fruits into the dishes, which was beneficial to the body and somewhat justified the price.

Returning to the academy, Qin Zhe and Yao Jing were in no rush, knowing that Li Zongheng was still dining with the exchange students. They walked slowly, chatting along the way, and arrived at the martial arts arena at a leisurely pace.

As their interactions increased, not only did Qin Zhe find Yao Jing difficult to handle, but she also felt she had few opportunities to play her games with him. Consequently, she behaved much more calmly around him, even occasionally showing a demure side. By the time they reached the arena, they had stunned countless students. Those who didn't know Yao Jing were merely envious of Qin Zhe being accompanied by a beauty, but those who did know her had their eyes widened in shock, their jaws nearly hitting the ground. The News Department Minister, who gave everyone a headache, was actually acting like this—had some warrior finally managed to tame this peerless enchantress?

Once inside the arena, perhaps because a crowd had already gathered, Yao Jing’s aura of a "seductress" returned in full force. "It’s almost time. Let’s go change our clothes. Afterward, I need to check if the other competitors have arrived." She smiled seductively and added, "When we get to the dressing room, don't you go thinking about peeking, or I'll be heartbroken."

*Peeking?* If you offered to let me see, I wouldn't even dare! Qin Zhe rolled his eyes and, ignoring her theatrics, walked straight toward the changing room. Seeing Qin Zhe ignore her again, Yao Jing pursed her lips and followed behind him, occasionally winking at people she knew. Needless to say, no one dared to respond to her all the way to the dressing room.

Soon, both of them were changed. Qin Zhe couldn't be sure if the Eagle Nation exchange students had ulterior motives, but it was clear that the academy had put a lot of effort into the custom-made uniforms for the exchange tournament. Qin Zhe’s uniform was a classic, loose-fitting Tang suit. In the long history of the Dragon Kingdom, the Tang suit was the preferred attire for ancient martial arts experts. If not for the words "Sponsored by XX Enterprise" on the back, he would have looked incredibly imposing wearing this "battle robe" on stage.

Yao Jing was not a competitor but the host of the tournament. She didn't receive a "battle robe," but a black, cut-out style qipao. Compared to the qipao worn by the protocol department that morning, this one was more form-fitting and featured a half-open back design. The moment she walked out, Qin Zhe, caught off guard, was nearly blinded by the sight. Silently praising the designer and the sponsor, he headed with Yao Jing to the lounge.

Pushing open the door, the four contestants from Haicheng University were already present. As Yao Jing entered first, all four were immediately struck by her beauty, but they quickly averted their gazes. Their expressions seemed to say, *Oh my god! Why is it this monster Yao Jing? Don't look, don't look, lest you catch her attention!*

Qin Zhe didn't know the four of them, but judging by their reactions, they were likely chosen from within the Student Union.

"Qin Zhe, let me introduce you," Yao Jing said. Donning the qipao as the host, she became much more serious. She pointed to the four people in the lounge one by one. "This big lug is Wang Hu, a peak third-stage Immortal Dao cultivator; he’s taking the lead. The skinny one next to him is Zhao Xinjue, also at peak third-stage; he’s the second. The Demonic Dao follows the Immortal Dao; these two are Hei Yi and Hei Er. They are both at peak third-stage of the Demonic Dao. Don't be surprised by their names—they have special backgrounds and only have code names, not real names."

As she introduced them, the four nodded at Qin Zhe. Qin Zhe had made a name for himself in the academy, so they were somewhat familiar with him. Although Hei Yi and Hei Er belonged to the Demonic Dao department, they were fellow Student Union members and appeared quite friendly.

After the introductions, Yao Jing looked back at Qin Zhe with a smile. "Martial Dao is the final round, so you have plenty of time to prepare. Remember not to underestimate your opponent. James is only second-stage, yet he dares to join a team of third and fourth-stage cultivators and is even anchoring the team—he might have hidden tricks. Don't lose due to arrogance, but don't make him lose too miserably, either."

Qin Zhe nodded without a word. His intention was simply to go through the motions, but since the academy wanted him to win, he would comply. Crucially, due to Liu Qingzhi’s misunderstanding, even the Dean believed he possessed fourth-stage strength. It would be inexcusable for a fourth-stage cultivator to lose to a second-stage one.

After giving her final instructions, Yao Jing left the lounge. Since the others were unfamiliar with Qin Zhe and needed to prepare for their matches, they didn't attempt to make conversation, instead sitting in their seats to compose their minds and adjust their states.

Not long after, the sound of thunderous cheers erupted from the arena outside. It seemed Yao Jing had taken the stage to open the tournament. Hearing the commotion, Qin Zhe and the others opened their eyes. Wang Hu, who looked like a rugged, brawny brute, gave a simple, honest smile. "Brothers, the Dean has sent me a telepathic message. I’m heading out. Hopefully, I won't lose too badly."

With that, his aura surged, a fierce fighting spirit erupted from him, and with a solemn expression, he walked out of the lounge.