20: Chapter 20: Returning to the Academy, a Miracle
Outside the Mission Hall, everyone craned their necks, hoping Jiang Xuan would appear soon. Those who participated in the bet wanted to quickly get their Gathering Qi Pills, while those watching the excitement wanted to see if a miracle would happen. Of course, there were also those waiting to kick him while he was down.
In short, the entire hall was waiting for Jiang Xuan alone. “Hey, what do you guys think, will that newcomer complete the mission?” While waiting, various discussions were endless.
“Will he? Do you think there’s any possibility? Do you think miracles are that easy to happen?”
“Actually, most people have already decided he won't succeed. Now it's just to satisfy that tiny bit of hope in their hearts.” Someone among the onlookers shook his head, his tone scornful.
“Alright, the sun is almost out. If that kid hasn't run away because he lost, he should be here by now. As for the result, just wait and see.”
After a long while, Jiang Xuan's figure was nowhere to be seen at the entrance of the Mission Hall. Someone impatiently said, “Why isn't he here yet? That kid didn't run away, did he?”
Hearing this, the crowd began to stir, especially those who fantasized about getting Gathering Qi Pills today, they seemed even more anxious. They paced back and forth, their right hand slightly open, pounding their left fist.
At this moment, the Outer Courtyard teacher with dark circles under his eyes and a dispirited expression stood up and said, “Don't rush, wait a bit longer, there's still some time before the morning bell rings.”
In the academy, the start of the next day was determined by the ringing of the morning bell. If Jiang Xuan had not returned by then, he would be judged to have lost.
After a while longer, it was almost time for the bell to ring, and Jiang Xuan had still not arrived. Many people had already started to give up, “Alas, everyone, let's disperse. I thought there would be some excitement to watch, but it's just this, boring.”
“Bastard, how dare he play us! Don't let me see that kid again, or else I'll beat him until his own mother doesn't recognize him!” They had waited for him for three days!
Thinking of the Gathering Qi Pills, some people hadn't slept for three days and three nights, only to wait for nothing. How could they not be angry?
Just as they were about to leave, at the bottom of the stone steps far from the Mission Hall, a figure slowly emerged from the morning mist. Who else could it be but Jiang Xuan?
He ascended the steps, where people were crowded inside and out. Countless eyes stared intently at Jiang Xuan, with curiosity, anger, and mockery, among other emotions.
Jiang Xuan was startled by the scene before him. “What's going on? So many people came, and that big uncle with the dark circles, what's with your resentful gaze?”
He had expected many people to come, but not this many. It seemed he had underestimated the power of the Gathering Qi Pill.
Now, he was famous throughout the entire Outer Courtyard. However, this also aligned with his original intention; he had originally wanted to accumulate prestige, and now he had overachieved.
Now, finding two people shouldn't be a problem, or perhaps they already knew I was coming.
“Dong~” The bell rang, signifying the start of a new day.
“Oh, just in time.” Jiang Xuan said with a smile. “Senior Brothers, you've waited a long time.”
“Enough nonsense! Are you deliberately stalling for time because you lost the bet, trying to renege on your debt?!”
“Let me tell you, there's no way! We all signed, you can't back out.”
“Kid, there are people from the Law Enforcement Hall here. If you renege, you'll suffer.”
Jiang Xuan ignored the crowd and walked through them to the mission handover point. He turned around and spoke unhurriedly to everyone, “Who said… I'm going to renege? Look closely!”
With that, a stack of mission slips appeared in Jiang Xuan's hand, and he handed them to the person in charge of verification.
Everyone watched Jiang Xuan's serious demeanor, and those who participated in the bet began to panic. “How is that possible? Did he really do it?”
“Don't panic, he's definitely faking it, just to mislead us. The mission slips must be fake too. Once the verifier checks them, let's see how he'll clean up this mess. By then, the Gathering Qi Pills will all be ours, hehe.”
The person responsible for verification also didn't believe Jiang Xuan could do it. He took the mission slips, holding the same thought as the crowd, believing Jiang Xuan was faking it. Then, he began to examine them carefully.
However, one, two... his expression slowly changed from initial nonchalance to shock. After reading them once, he went through them again, meticulously, from top to bottom.
He was trembling uncontrollably, whether from excitement or anger, causing the papers to rustle.
To those with discerning eyes, his appearance seemed to be one of anger because Jiang Xuan had faked it. Immediately, someone laughed loudly.
“Hahaha, these mission slips are indeed fake! Kid, look at how angry you've made the verifying Senior Brother. This wager, in the end, you lost! Where are the Medicinal Pills? Hurry up and take them out!”
“Right, right, honor your bet and quickly take out the Medicinal Pills!” The surrounding people shouted, their expressions agitated.
“Bang!” Suddenly, a loud sound of a hand slapping the table rang out, and the scene instantly quieted down.
The verifier slowly stood up from his chair, trembling. He looked at Jiang Xuan with eyes like he was a monster, then looked at those who participated, his face showing sympathy.
“Hoo.” Then, he let out a deep breath and said in a serious tone, “I have seen all the mission slips. They are all real. This wager… Jiang Xuan wins!”
“What… the f*ck!” Someone suddenly blurted out.
“No! I don't believe it…” A figure suddenly rushed out of the crowd, pouncing towards the table, grabbing the mission slips, and looking at them up and down. While looking, he kept questioning, “Fake, this must be fake… How could anyone do it?”
The verifier frowned, his face showing displeasure, and he said coldly, “What, are you doubting my ability, or do you think I'm covering for Jiang Xuan?”
“Senior Brother… I…”
“Alright, a loss is a loss. Don't let your integrity be lost along with it.”
“Senior Brother's lesson is right. I was impulsive.” After saying that, the person who had questioned earlier returned to the crowd with a dejected expression.
Seeing that the time was about right, Jiang Xuan stepped forward and said with a smile, “Since all Senior Brothers have conceded, then this Junior Brother will not be polite. Please bring out the equivalent Heaven And Earth Treasures.”
Although those who participated were unwilling, they still painfully gave their stakes to Jiang Xuan. They had originally thought it was a sure-win situation, who knew they would encounter such a monster, and the nearly obtained Gathering Qi Pills just flew away like that.
Those who were watching the excitement felt that their trip today was not in vain. No matter who lost or won, it didn't affect their enjoyment of the spectacle. Moreover, today, they witnessed a miracle.
A newcomer completed an Advanced mission in three days that others would take three months to complete, and he was completely unharmed.
While shocked, they also began to wonder in their hearts how he had accomplished it.
In the crowd, Cheng Yuan's maid recovered from her shock, then turned and ran off. She had to tell her Young Miss the news. Vaguely, the Senior Brother in charge of verification seemed to call that Young Master… Jiang Xuan?