134: Chapter 134 Chen Shanzhi, you're quite an interesting person.

Chen Shanzhi was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead.

True, Jiang Feiyu is Palace Master Su Jianqing's only Personal Disciple and has lived in the Academy since childhood.

The Academy is full of big shots; why would she need a private guard?

That unfathomable woman, Palace Master Su Jianqing, was clearly raising this girl as a pure Martial Artist.

"It's fine."

Chen Shanzhi waved his hand and said dismissively:

"Tomorrow, you'll just be responsible for following behind me and being a heartless glutton. "

"Don't worry about the guards."

Hearing she didn't need to use her brain, Jiang Feiyu happily bit into a sweet potato: "Alright!"

Just as Jiang Feiyu's problem was solved...

"Brother Chen..."

Another hand was raised, looking extremely guilty.

Murong Yun shrunk his neck, his face—previously red with excitement—now slumped like a bitter gourd. His eyes darted around frantically, so embarrassed he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Um... I might not be able to bring anyone either."

Three black lines instantly appeared on Chen Shanzhi's forehead.

He looked at the two of them, somewhat speechless.

As expected of two of the "Four Great Playboys of the Capital," sharing the same reputation as himself!

These two were useless at everything except eating, drinking, and playing. At a critical moment like this, they both freaking dropped the ball!

"What's wrong with you?" Chen Shanzhi asked crossly. "A Young Master of the dignified Murong Clan, and you can't even mobilize a few guards from home?"

"There are people, but I don't dare to mobilize them!"

Murong Yun was almost in tears, wailing in a low voice: "Brother Chen, you know my Eldest Sister is at home right now!"

"If I dared to openly mobilize the family guards, she would definitely catch me and skin me alive!"

"My Eldest Sister is also the supervisor teacher, and I can't tell her our real purpose. "

"So, I really can't find a reasonable excuse to bring people out!"

Hearing the name Murong Zhaoling...

The image of a top-tier mature beauty—tall, with straight, slender legs and a dashing, heroic aura—instantly surfaced in Chen Shanzhi's mind.

Thinking back to their behavior at the Murong Manor...

Chen Shanzhi stroked his chin, extended a finger, and beckoned to Murong Yun: "Come here."

Murong Yun cautiously leaned his head in.

"Get lost back home right now and go straight to your Eldest Sister."

Chen Shanzhi lowered his voice: "Tell her that I, Chen Shanzhi, want to borrow one or two Xuanguan Peak guards from her."

"Huh?"

Murong Yun's eyes nearly popped out, looking at Chen Shanzhi like he was a madman:

"Brother Chen, you don't have a fever, do you? Say you're the one borrowing them? "

"The people my Eldest Sister hates most are dandy sons like us! "

"If I use your name, won't she just chop me down while she's at it?"

"If I tell you to go, just go. Stop talking nonsense!"

Chen Shanzhi kicked Murong Yun impatiently and raised an eyebrow:

"Just go back and try. If she asks what I'm borrowing them for, say it's for something big. "

"Who knows, once she hears my name, she might release them to you immediately?"

Murong Yun clutched his butt, his face full of doubt.

But he had no other choice now, so he could only nod, thinking that if anything happened...

He would definitely throw all the blame onto Chen Shanzhi.

After all, better a Fellow Daoist die than oneself.

Just as Chen Shanzhi was feeling a headache over these two pig teammates...

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted by.

"Young Master Chen, if you are short on manpower, Lingfu can help."

Shen Lingfu took a small step forward, lowering her head slightly to reveal a section of her snowy-white, slender neck.

Her voice was soft and weak, yet it carried an undeniable air of wealth and power.

"I am the Young Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion. Our Treasure Pavilion usually maintains many guards in secret for escorting goods."

Shen Lingfu raised her moist eyes and gave Chen Shanzhi a deeply affectionate look:

"As long as Young Master Chen says the word, I can bring out as many Xuanguan Peak Martial Artists as I want."

"After all, the one thing our Treasure Pavilion doesn't lack is money."

What big talk!

However, Chen Shanzhi knew this little green tea was telling the truth.

Treasure Pavilion was as rich as a nation; spending money to hire dozens of Xuanguan Peak Martial Artists was child's play to them.

"Alright then."

Chen Shanzhi naturally gave her an appreciative look:

"Since Miss Shen is so righteous, then tomorrow's high-end combat support will depend entirely on you."

"No problem," Shen Lingfu nodded obediently.

Everyone finalized the candidates and plans for tomorrow.

The atmosphere became relaxed once again.

"Since everyone needs to head back early to find people..."

Ouyang Wanqing, who hadn't spoken much, now looked at the still noisy crowd in Caishikou.

"What about today's patrol duty in Caishikou? It's not time to end the shift yet."

Chen Shanzhi waved his hand dismissively and straightened his collar:

"That lousy task only gives five merit points a day. "

"We're doing something big tomorrow; those five points aren't worth worrying about. "

"Just consider it a tribute to that poker-faced Zhao Laosan. "

"Let's go, let's go home."

"No."

Ouyang Wanqing shook her head, a hint of disapproval on her dignified and beautiful face.

"Everything must have a beginning and an end."

Ouyang Wanqing's voice was crisp and logical:

"We've almost finished the patrol today, with only this last bit of time left. "

"If we leave now, losing those five points is a small matter. "

"But if Zhao Laosan catches us and uses it as an excuse to deduct our total merit points, wouldn't that be penny-wise and pound-foolish?"

Chen Shanzhi was stunned; it did make sense.

Zhao Laosan was very rigid. If he really recorded "deserting post and absenteeism" in the task dossier, it would be a hassle.

"But we all have to go back and call for people," Murong Yun scratched his head.

Ouyang Wanqing smiled slightly: "It's alright."

She actively took the tedious task upon herself: "You guys go back first to find people and prepare for tomorrow. "

"I'll stay here alone to finish the remaining half-hour of patrol before going to the Prime Minister's Mansion to call for people."

"Anyway, this is Caishikou; there won't be any danger."

Hearing that Ouyang Wanqing wanted to stay alone...

The others were a bit hesitant.

After all, Ouyang Wanqing was the daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Letting her patrol this dirty and smelly Caishikou alone seemed inappropriate no matter how you looked at it.

"Sister Wanqing, how about I stay? I wasn't going back to find anyone anyway," Jiang Feiyu raised her hand.

"No need."

Ouyang Wanqing smiled and patted Jiang Feiyu's head, then her beautiful eyes naturally swept over Chen Shanzhi.

Her tone was gentle but brook no refusal: "You all go back. Tomorrow will be a tough battle, so get plenty of rest."

Seeing Ouyang Wanqing's determined attitude, and knowing she was a Xuanguan Eleven Apertures expert who wouldn't run into trouble in Caishikou...

The group stopped insisting.

"Alright, then today will be hard on you, Miss Ouyang."

Chen Shanzhi nodded to her, and without wasting time, he turned and walked toward the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

"Let's go."

Murong Yun, Jiang Feiyu, and Shen Lingfu also said their goodbyes to Ouyang Wanqing and went their separate ways.

The sun was setting in the west.

Ouyang Wanqing stood alone by the tea stall.

She didn't immediately turn to patrol but stood silently, her eyes like autumn waters watching Chen Shanzhi's tall, receding figure.

An autumn breeze blew, fluttering the hem of her long dress.

She remembered last night on the broken tile roof in the Refugee Area, when Chen Shanzhi pinned her down, his warm breath by her ear.

Then outside that village, his mature and steady appearance.

And today, his cunning way of twisting the Academy's rules with just a few words.

A faint smile, which she herself hadn't even noticed, quietly curved the corners of Ouyang Wanqing's mouth.

"Chen Shanzhi... I didn't expect you to be quite interesting."

She whispered softly, then composed herself and turned into the noisy crowd of Caishikou.