103: Chapter 103 Ranking Points

Seeing Jiang Yingrao's gaze sweep over, the maid's body tensed up. She quickly lowered her head and continued her report at a rapid pace:

"To avoid alerting the target, our people have been observing from a great distance in secret.

According to the scout's report, Zhang Qing stayed inside for a total of two incense sticks' time this time."

"When he came out, his expression was very grim, looking as if he had a lot on his mind."

After hearing this, Jiang Yingrao's beautiful eyes instantly narrowed into long, thin slits, and a dangerous glint of cold light flashed in the depths of her eyes.

Two incense sticks' time was neither long nor short.

But staying in that inconspicuous shroud shop for so long and coming out with such a ghostly expression...

It was obvious that Zhang Qing had definitely met with someone inside and discussed things that could not see the light of day.

Killing Intent flashed in Jiang Yingrao's eyes as her jade-like hand slammed down on the red sandalwood table.

Her red lips parted slightly; her first reaction was to immediately send people over.

To kidnap that traitor back and subject him to torture to get what she wanted.

But as the words reached her lips, the lesson from the previous incident with Shopkeeper Jiang suddenly flashed through her mind.

Then she thought of Chen Shanzhi's words about not alerting the target.

Jiang Yingrao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning Killing Intent within her.

"Send people to watch him secretly twenty-four hours a day, without interruption!"

Jiang Yingrao extended a slender finger and lightly tapped the tabletop, her tone brook no argument:

"Where he's been lately, what he's done, who he's met, even which latrine he's gone to!

Record everything for me in full detail and report back at any time!"

"Yes, Saintess!"

The maid responded and hurriedly withdrew.

Silence returned to the room.

Jiang Yingrao rested her cheek on one hand, her soul-hooking peach blossom eyes looking through the hollowed-out window lattice at the bustling streets of the capital.

A gust of autumn wind blew by, brushing a few strands of hair near her ear.

Looking out the window, a rare flash of irritability and strangeness suddenly crossed Jiang Yingrao's beautiful eyes.

Ever since the Four Seas Academy officially opened and transitioned to fully closed management...

She hadn't seen that bastard Chen Shanzhi, who was full of wicked ideas, even once.

"That libertine is probably surrounding himself with women in the academy right now..."

Jiang Yingrao bit her red lip slightly and hummed in a low voice:

"If he were here right now, perhaps things wouldn't be this troublesome.

To be honest... this Saintess actually misses him a little now."

...

Meanwhile.

Four Seas Academy, Central Martial Arts Arena.

At this moment, the area outside the Martial Arts Arena was a sea of people, packed with students from various classes.

The reason was simple: today, the academy's wind and cloud ranking, which represented supreme glory...

Had finally updated with specific point values!

Those on the ranking wanted to see exactly how many points they had and how much they trailed behind those freaks in front.

Those not on the ranking craned their necks even more, wanting to see how far they were from the passing line for the ranking.

Chen Shanzhi and his group were naturally mixed in the crowd.

He stood with his arms crossed. Beside him was Jiang Feiyu, holding a candied hawthorn in her left hand and munching on a large meat bun in her right.

Behind them was Murong Yun, carrying a wine gourd and reeking of alcohol, and Zhang Qi, who was as round as a ball.

The Four Great Playboys of the Capital were gathered together.

At this moment, the four of them were squeezed at the very front of the crowd with no regard for their image, looking up at the massive golden ranking list.

[1st Place: Princess Jiang Yueli, 11,500 points]

[2nd Place: Lu Yuchen, 11,100 points]

[3rd Place: Xing Zhige, 11,000 points]

...

[6th Place: Jiang Feiyu, 10,100 points]

[9th Place: Ouyang Wanqing, 9,700 points]

[10th Place: Shen Lingfu, 9,600 points]

...

[39th Place: Chen Shanzhi, 4,400 points]

...

[50th Place: Tang Xiaowu, 2,200 points]

Looking at the name sitting high at the top of the ranking with a massive lead...

The surrounding students instantly erupted into a commotion.

"Holy crap! I remember Her Highness the Eldest Princess didn't even show up for the opening Martial Arts Demonstration. Not only is she first, but how did she pull so far ahead of second place?"

"What do you know? The Eldest Princess is first on the immortal stele hidden dragon ranking!

According to the academy's rules, the first on the hidden dragon ranking is defaulted to three wins in the Martial Arts Demonstration with full points!

If you're not happy about it, go get first on the hidden dragon ranking yourself!"

"Can't afford to provoke her, can't afford to provoke her..."

Chen Shanzhi rubbed his chin, not feeling surprised that Princess Jiang Yueli took first.

Then he scanned down a few lines, and a brilliant smile instantly curled onto his lips.

He turned his head and patted Jiang Feiyu beside him.

"Tsk tsk, Feiyu."

Chen Shanzhi couldn't help but say proudly:

"I just realized that our Team Six's strength is quite luxurious.

As the captain, I am very gratified."

In his current five-person team, besides Murong Yun who was a slacker...

Jiang Feiyu was 6th!

Ouyang Wanqing was 9th!

Shen Lingfu was 10th!

Plus himself, the captain who had soared to 39th place.

In one team, there were four people on the wind and cloud ranking, and three of them were top-ten powerhouses!

With such a luxurious lineup, wouldn't the points they'd get from Jiantian Division missions be incredibly high?

Jiang Feiyu took a bite of her bun and vaguely played along with Chen Shanzhi.

Just then, a piercing wail suddenly came from the side!

"Holy shit!!!"

The little fatty Zhang Qi was staring intently at his academy Waist Token, his small eyes wide with shock.

Students not on the wind and cloud ranking could check their points through their academy Waist Token.

At this moment, Zhang Qi looked at the pitiful 600 points on his token.

Then he turned his head and looked at Chen Shanzhi's 4,400 points and Jiang Feiyu's five-digit score as if looking at monsters.

His mental state instantly collapsed!

"Wait..."

Zhang Qi pointed at Chen Shanzhi, his face full of grief, indignation, and the humiliation of being betrayed:

"Didn't we agree we were all the Four Great Playboys? Didn't we agree to be Trash together?"

"Feiyu is one thing! Her Master is the Academy Head, and she gets special training every day!"

"But what's the deal with you, Chen Shanzhi?

Last year, you clearly couldn't even beat me, and this year you're freaking 39th on the wind and cloud ranking?"

Zhang Qi clutched his chest in deep distress:

"You two are secretly grinding points behind my back, aren't you?

Backstabbing your brother—doesn't your conscience hurt?"

Chen Shanzhi unceremoniously kicked Zhang Qi's fat butt and laughed, "Get lost! This is called 'accumulating steadily and breaking out,' understand?"

Nearby, Jiang Feiyu swallowed the last bite of her meat bun.

She casually spat out the bamboo skewer from the candied hawthorns with a "ptui."

Whoosh!

The wooden skewer, imbued with the sharp true essence of the Xuanguan Eleven Apertures...

Flew like a hidden weapon and nailed itself deep into the trunk of a large tree ten paces away!

"Fatty, stop howling like a ghost here."

Jiang Feiyu wiped the grease off her hands and naturally hooked her arm around Chen Shanzhi's neck, leaning against him like they were brothers.

Her startlingly soft curves pressed against Chen Shanzhi's arm without any reservation.

"If you're weak, practice more. If you can't afford to lose, don't play. Right, Old Chen?" Jiang Feiyu winked at Chen Shanzhi.

Chen Shanzhi's half-body stiffened from the pressure.

This woman was clearly a top-tier beauty with a hot body, but her personality was rougher than a man's, and she had absolutely no awareness of physical boundaries between men and women.

Chen Shanzhi pushed her head away irritably:

"Keep your meat-bun-scented mouth away from me, don't rub it on my clothes!"

Being mocked mercilessly by the two, Zhang Qi rubbed his butt, his eyes red.

He secretly gritted his teeth.

Damn it, I can't keep slacking off like this!

Even Chen Shanzhi, that former pretty boy, has secretly become stronger.

If I don't work hard, I'll be too ashamed to even show up at the next Four Great Playboys gathering!

The little fatty made up his mind: this semester, he would definitely work hard in secret and then outshine them all!

After checking the points and messing around for a while, the group squeezed out of the crowd.

Zhao Qi said, "I'm heading out first. I see my team members; I'm going to find them."

Chen Shanzhi and the other two waved goodbye to Zhao Qi.

"Let's go, we'll head straight to the Jiantian Division office to report." Chen Shanzhi called out.

The literary class this morning was 'Zither'.

The three of them were unrefined people who had zero interest in such elegant arts.

Shen Lingfu, however, loved playing the zither. Plus, after seeing Chen Shanzhi get the 'Poetry' medal yesterday, she was greatly stimulated.

She was determined to get this 'Zither' medal.

So after checking the points, Shen Lingfu hurried off to the lecture hall to grab a seat.

As for Ouyang Wanqing...

Chen Shanzhi looked around curiously.

Since this morning, he hadn't seen the Prime Minister's daughter anywhere.

Logically, with her personality, she wouldn't miss the major event of the wind and cloud ranking update.

However, they had also agreed yesterday.

Since Chen Shanzhi was the captain of Class A, Team Six, he could take the others to report to the Jiantian Division first and familiarize themselves with the process.

The biggest benefit of the martial arts class reform this semester was that team members assigned to the Jiantian Division...

Could enter and leave Four Seas Academy freely, instead of being locked inside like before.

Chatting as they walked, the group swaggered toward the academy's main gate.

Just as they reached the grand gate of the academy...

Chen Shanzhi's footsteps suddenly paused slightly.

Outside the academy gate, the Prime Minister's Mansion carriage was parked.

A figure in water-blue clothes was slowly stepping down from the carriage.

It was Ouyang Wanqing!

"Your Highness, Feiyu, sorry to keep you waiting."

Ouyang Wanqing walked up to them, her signature dignified and gentle smile still on her lips as she greeted them softly.

But how sharp was Chen Shanzhi's gaze?

With just a single glance, his expression couldn't help but falter.

Today, Ouyang Wanqing had clearly applied a very delicate light makeup to hide her usual refined and ethereal appearance.

But around her clear eyes, Chen Shanzhi still keenly captured a trace of swelling that couldn't be concealed!

Deep in her eyes, there was also a hidden, profound exhaustion.

Had this usually high-and-mighty Prime Minister's daughter cried not long ago?

Countless thoughts flashed through Chen Shanzhi's mind.

Had something happened at the Prime Minister's Mansion?

Or had her father, who held immense power in court, forced her to do something?

But seeing Ouyang Wanqing's "I'm fine, nothing's wrong" expression...

And the stubborn way she suppressed all her emotions deep in her heart...

Chen Shanzhi directly swallowed the inquiry that was on the tip of his tongue.

Between smart people, not asking is sometimes the best form of consideration.

Moreover, this woman's mental defenses were extremely strong; asking would be useless.

"Not long at all, we just finished looking at the ranking and came out."

Chen Shanzhi naturally took a step forward, not even looking too closely at her eyes. He just walked past her casually, tilting his head with a light tone:

"Let's go, we'll head to the Jiantian Division together."

Ouyang Wanqing looked at Chen Shanzhi's back—which didn't pry too much—and her tensed shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Okay."

She responded softly and stepped forward to follow.