There were already many people gathered at the finishing point of the training, which was located at the other exit point of White Stone Canyon. The teachers in charge of registration and recording scores were intently jotting down the results of each student’s training performance in detail. Some of the students who were done with the registration and recording had taken their leave back to school grounds first.
When the group of four consisting of Ling Chuxi, Ling Yichen, the fifth princess and Zhong Xingkai arrived, Ling Chuxi saw scar-face and his gang registering their looted goods. She cast a glance over at scar-face and saw him shiver and subconsciously take two steps backwards. When Ling Yichen’s icy gaze swept over him, scar-face almost yelped in surprise. ‘Why was he looking at me like that? He looked as though he wanted to skin me alive. Did I take it the wrong way? Geez, I was the victim. You guys robbed me, okay?’
“Ling Chuxi, you really are too slow. Could it be that you’re afraid to lose and humiliate yourself?” asked Lan Xinyu condescendingly with a sneer as she took two steps forward and stood in front of Ling Chuxi.
“Lan Xinyu…” announced Ling Chuxi in a slow and deliberate manner as she looked at the arrogant and domineering maiden before her. She sighed pitifully in an exaggerated manner, “I worry very much for you, currently. You being humiliated doesn’t matter all that much, but if the entire Lan family reputation is tarnished because of you, tell me, what will you do then?”
“Why, you little—!” Lan Xinyu’s expression changed in an instant and she was poised to launch an attack. But once she laid eyes on the fifth princess standing by Ling Chuxi’s side, she forcefully tamped down her anger for now. “Ling Chuxi, don’t speak too soon. Hurry up and fetch your things. We should go and register together so the teachers can tell us then and there whose items have a higher total value.”
“All right, sure.” Ling Chuxi waved over at Ling Yichen. “Let’s go.”
Ling Chuxi’s group walked over to the teacher-in-charge of registration. Zhong Xingkai looked around and saw Xia Zhuoyi standing to the side silently, so he bustled over to him.
“Young Master! Young Master!” called out Zhong Xingkai happily as he rushed over to Xia Zhuoyi.
“Oh, Uncle Zhong, why are you here? And what happened to your hand? Are you all right? How is it that you got so injured?” Worry and anxiety clouded Xia Zhuoyi’s elegant face as he looked Zhong Xingkai over.
“I’m fine, Young Master. Don’t worry. I came to search for Ming Mu Ginseng, but before I managed to find any, I encountered a Wind Owl Beast. It was Miss Ling Chuxi who saved me.” Zhong Xingkai replied to Xia Zhuoyi’s questions as honestly as he could. He scratched his head sheepishly as he spoke in a grateful tone, “If it weren’t for Miss Ling Chuxi, I wouldn’t have been able to make it back alive.”
“What? A Wind Owl Beast!” exclaimed Xia Zhuoyi. His face changed at once and his tone became stern, “Uncle Zhong, why did you go to such a dangerous place? If anything happened to you, what would my mother do?”
“But it’s fine now, isn’t it? I went because I just wanted to collect some Ming Mu Ginseng,” explained Zhong Xingkai even as he shrank back nervously.
“Ming Mu Ginseng won’t be able to cure my mother’s eyes. Who told you such nonsense?” demanded Xia Zhuoyi as he clenched his fist tightly. His elegant face was full of fury. ‘Who told Uncle Zhong that Ming Mu Ginseng could cure mother’s eyes? It was obviously a trick so that Uncle Zhong would be sent to his death! Who could be so malicious as this? Actually… If he really thought about it, he knew exactly who it was. It was most definitely that person. Definitely!’
“Huh? It can’t?” said Zhong Xingkai confusedly and disappointedly at the same time.
“Don’t believe those people’s words anymore. In the future, if there are any concerns regarding such matters, come and ask me first,” said Xia Zhuoyi solemnly with a sigh. “Uncle Zhong, please don’t take risks like this anymore. I only have two relatives left—mother and you.”
Zhong Xingkai went silent. His expression was full of melancholy. Finally, he nodded.
“Ling Chuxi, I owe you a favor again,” muttered Xia Zhuoyi quietly as he raised his head to look at Ling Chuxi who was busy registering her items. “These favors I owe you, I will definitely repay it.”
Zhong Xingkai looked at his young master perplexedly. Why did his young master say he owed Miss Ling Chuxi a favor again? He focused on the word “again” and wondered what exactly happened the first time.