Chapter 63: The Enchantress on the Surface

Chapter 63: The Superficial Enchantress

Under the dim night sky, Qin Zhe and Wang Chongguo completed yet another unspeakable transaction, exchanging a knowing smile.

This smile was rather eerie, as if both of them had profited from the deal, leaving everything unsaid.

"Do not let me down tomorrow. Win if you can, and try your best to take the victory. But if you cannot win, do not push yourself too hard."

With a final word of instruction, Wang Chongguo lifted off into the air and departed.

Qin Zhe did not linger in the square either. He pulled out a spirit fruit he had just bought today to munch on, took out his phone, and scrolled through his contacts to find Yao Jing's number.

Just as he was about to press the call button, a text message from an unknown number popped up.

A promotional message?

Qin Zhe paused, perplexed, and tapped to open the message.

"Some outsiders from society are coming after you. Be careful recently."

Outsiders from society?

Coming after me?

Could it be sent to the wrong person?

Qin Zhe furrowed his brow.

If someone within the academy found him an eyesore and plotted against him, he wouldn't find it strange.

A towering tree catches the wind, and a fat pig is slaughtered.

He was now a celebrity in the true sense of the word, and it was entirely normal for some people to be displeased with him.

Jealousy was a common emotion among human beings.

However, the mention of outsiders in the text message left Qin Zhe feeling rather puzzled.

He pondered the fact that he had hardly stepped out of his doors lately, having left the campus only a few times. He had no reason to offend anyone outside the academy. Who on earth would have nothing better to do than make trouble for him?

After a moment of thought, Qin Zhe dialed the unknown number and held the phone to his ear.

Obviously, the text message was a warning.

He was very curious as to who had warned him.

The phone rang for a while before a busy tone came through; no one answered.

Qin Zhe was not surprised by this.

After all, he was merely testing whether the other party might pick up, not expecting an actual answer.

Without attempting to redial, Qin Zhe called Yao Jing's number instead.

Soon, the call went through, followed immediately by Yao Jing's disgruntled voice.

"You still remember to call me? I thought you didn't want your cat anymore and gave it to me!"

"Stop joking around. I spent so many spirit stones on it, how could I possibly give it to you?"

Qin Zhe replied, displaying the true colors of an insensitive guy.

On the other end of the line, Yao Jing was utterly choked up by his response and began to shout loudly.

"What do you mean by that? What's wrong with giving me something? Explain yourself clearly!"

Separated by the screen of a mobile phone, Qin Zhe naturally wasn't intimidated by Yao Jing.

By now, as their familiarity grew, he had gained a deep understanding of Yao Jing's personality, knowing that she was at best a superficial enchantress.

At least in Qin Zhe's view, Yao Jing was a very decent person.

Although her words and actions often made people exasperated, her heart was in the right place; she simply enjoyed bouncing around and acting up.

Pulling the phone slightly away from his ear and letting Yao Jing rant, Qin Zhe dug into his ear.

"Where are you right now? I'll come over to find you."

"The guard booth!"

Yao Jing let out a heavy huff and clamored.

"I am unhappy! You must compensate me! Otherwise..."

Without giving her the chance to make demands, Qin Zhe decisively hung up the phone and turned to walk toward the guard booth.

...

The academy did not hire guards, nor was there any need to.

Everyone on campus, whether teacher or student, was a cultivator; no petty thieves would be foolish enough to patronize the place.

Therefore, the main gate's guard booth had always been a mere decoration. Aside from the Disciplinary Department's personnel on duty twice a day for morning and evening patrols, nobody usually bothered to wander in there for no reason.

When Qin Zhe arrived at the guard booth, Yao Jing was sitting inside alone, cradling the phantom cat, her pretty face as dark as charcoal.

Knocking on the door symbolically, Qin Zhe said earnestly,

"Sorry, my phone battery died. The call just now hung up automatically."

"Heh!"

Yao Jing forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her face full of an expression that said 'I believe your ghost stories,' and retorted,

"Don't make excuses for yourself. Anyway, I am unhappy! You provoked me, so you have to pay the price!"

"Alright, how about I treat you to a late-night snack?"

Qin Zhe smiled as he sat down, handling the situation with practiced ease.

"You think a late-night snack can dismiss me? What kind of person do you take me for?"

Yao Jing grumbled, though her hands were honest enough. She placed the phantom cat on her lap, fished out her phone, and opened a search app for late-night dining services.

She loved to play around, but she wasn't someone who liked to split hairs over trifles.

Since someone was showing such rare self-awareness, she didn't mind freeloading a meal.

Having been petted by Yao Jing for a long time, the phantom cat had grown much closer to her. Even when released, it showed no intention of leaving, simply curling up into a ball on her lap and letting out a yawn.

Seeing how lazy and cozy it was, Yao Jing lost her previous wariness, stroked its head with one hand, and murmured,

"Little White, oh Little White, you are still the most well-behaved. Don't learn from your master, you hear? With a thick-skinned guy like him, he's probably never going to find a girlfriend in the future."

The phantom cat could not speak human language and naturally could not reply.

Qin Zhe, standing to the side, let out a gentle cough.

"If I can't find a girlfriend, I can use money to find one."

Yao Jing was left speechless. She rolled her eyes and said,

"I was talking to Little White, why are you cutting in?"

With that, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Speaking of which, why do you seem exceptionally cheeky today? Did you encounter some good news over at the principal's place?"

"No, no, don't guess blindly. I'm just in a good mood for the time being," Qin Zhe prevaricated. He glanced at the phantom cat and added, "As a side note, this cat is named Big White, not Little White."

"Big White?"

Yao Jing was stunned for a moment, shook her head without offering any critique, and asked,

"Where is Liu Qingzhi? I just saw the square's mystic realm passage open. Did she go to the Cold Moon Mystic Realm again?"

"Yeah, a big shot from the Research Institute arrived. The principal asked her to provide an escort and scout the path along the way."

Qin Zhe nodded, withholding the information about Sikong Yuanhang.

"Does that mean there is news regarding the Abyss?"

Yao Jing's pretty eyes lit up, and she suddenly let out an excited cry.

"Decided! I want to eat at this place!"

Qin Zhe was left speechless, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by her erratic pacing.

Just a moment ago, she clearly wanted to ask about the Abyss, but out of nowhere she shifted directions, leaving him with no time to react.

Resignedly leaning over to glance at Yao Jing's phone screen, Qin Zhe saw it was a roadside food stall and asked in amazement,

"Eating something so cheap today? That's not like you!"

"It's just a late-night snack, why eat something so extravagant? Do you take me for a spendthrift?"

Yao Jing pouted slightly, stood up holding the phantom cat, and said,

"Let's go. It's not far, we'll walk. If you have anything to say, tell me on the way."

Qin Zhe hadn't eaten dinner, having only munched on a spirit fruit to stave off hunger earlier, and he was indeed feeling hungry now.

Having gone through the ordeal of gorging himself on spirit fruits until he doubted life itself, he had finally learned a profound truth:

Humans are like iron, food is like steel, and spirit fruits cannot replace meals!

Seeing that Yao Jing had decided to walk, Qin Zhe stood up to follow while taking out his phone and handing it over.

"Director Yao, you have wide connections, and your News Department has even more talented individuals. Do you think there's any way you could help me look up this unknown number?"

"Didn't you just say your phone battery died?"

Yao Jing gnashed her teeth and put on a fierce expression, snatched the phone, and immediately arched an eyebrow.

"How on earth did you manage to provoke people from society out of nowhere? Could someone simply be trying to scare you?"