Chapter 8 of the Academy's Delinquent

In a room filled with the distinctive smell of tobacco, Sima Zhen turned on a fan enchanted with a ventilation spell and returned to stand beside Zhuge Muyan, picking up a tablet.

"All correct answers. But..."

"That's right. Only the problems you solved are correct."

As they said, all the problems solved on the test paper in the tablet were marked as correct. The issue was that only the problems that were solved were correct, in other words, the unsolved problems were all blank.

This meant that...

"He has talent, but lacks the attitude to work hard..."

At Sima Zhen's muttering, Zhuge Muyan opened his eyes lazily and countered.

"Well... Maybe he didn't have enough time to study everything?"

"For that to be the case, the last chapter of every subject wouldn't have been left unanswered."

Sima Zhen, exhaling a deep breath of tobacco smoke, continued to criticize, looking at the empty spaces on the test paper.

"It seems he relied solely on his talent, thinking 'This should be enough,' and didn't study properly."

Of course, it could be that he had a reason for not studying everything, but even that would just be an excuse for his lack of effort.

'Huh, really...'

Sima Zhen, scanning the empty problems in the middle of the test paper, couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

'This is the first time I've seen a test paper with so many blanks while being a proctor.'

At that moment, Zhuge Muyan, who had been sipping his tea on Sima Zhen's right, asked with a puzzled look.

"Still, this student seems quite clever, doesn't he? Isn't he the kind of talent you've been looking for?"

"Is that so...? I'm not sure."

Zhuge Muyan put down his tea and poked Sima Zhen's side, implying he shouldn't pretend not to know.

"Ah, cough. This Bairen Zhen, he definitely has a sharp mind, but..."

"But?"

"No matter how clever he is, if he doesn't show the right attitude, he's just a troublemaker."

"Hehe, is that so."

"Now that I'm not interested, you can take this tablet."

As Sima Zhen was about to return the tablet to Zhuge Muyan, one of the problems solved by Bairen Zhen caught his eye.

'Wait...!'

Sima Zhen's narrow eyes widened, and the irises inside them trembled as if in an earthquake.

'No way, a freshman solved this?'

This problem was unsolvable by ordinary means, a puzzle that would take scholars with stacks of books hours to solve.

It required an understanding of the principles of the Taiji Bagua, a study of the now-extinct Wu Dang sect.

Seeing a nearly perfect solution, Sima Zhen's eyes lit up. He pressed out his finished cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Zhuge Muyan.

Zhuge Muyan, who hadn't thoroughly examined the problem, seemed unaware.

"By the way, isn't Wu Xue also entering this time?"

"That's right."

"Who do you think is more outstanding between this Bairen Zhen and Wu Xue?"

At the sudden mention of his grandson, Zhuge Muyan stroked his long beard, thinking about Wu Xue's talent.

'Wu Xue...'

A child who reminded him of his own childhood, a prodigy.

'Maybe he's even better than me.'

He wasn't being overly generous because Wu Xue was his grandson.

Objectively speaking, the talent of this child, Zhuge Wu Xue, surpassed any other child he had seen.

'No matter how talented Bairen Zhen is, he can't compare to Wu Xue.'

Zhuge Muyan thought that even if Bairen Zhen's grandfather came, he wouldn't be a match for Zhuge Wu Xue.

"Probably Wu Xue is a bit better."

"I would have thought so too, but my opinion has changed."

"What do you mean?"

Sima Zhen pointed to Bairen Zhen's test paper on the tablet with a pen. The pen was pointing to one problem.

"This kid solved the Taiji Bagua problem in the written section, number 32, accurately."

"......!?"

* * *

Changan City is situated between the Wu Lin Alliance's territory, Changan, and the territory of the Mage's Tower, Magical City.

Given its location, the Mage's Tower and the Wu Lin Alliance both claimed it as their own, leading to a sharp conflict.

As a result, it was essentially a no-man's land until the two powers agreed to a truce, naming it Changan City.

"Stop being so annoying, you're driving me crazy!"

"Why, what's wrong?"

Huang Bao Shuzheng's brows were deeply furrowed as she watched Huang Bao Tieshu recite the history of Changan City from the academy pamphlet multiple times.

"Even a sweet talk can only be good if said a few times. Who would like to hear the same thing over and over?"

"Alright, I get it."

Huang Bao Tieshu put the pamphlet in his bag with a gloomy expression and muttered.

"You always pick on me."

It had been three days since the entrance exam, and they were heading to the academy bulletin board to check the results.

"By the way, Crystal..."

"Huang Bao Shuzheng."

"Yeah, Shuzheng. Why did you take the entrance exam using magic?"

At Huang Bao Tieshu's question, Huang Bao Shuzheng looked flustered and tried to dodge the topic.

"Oh, that, um... just."

"You said you didn't want to use magic and didn't even teach me..."

Huang Bao Shuzheng glanced at Bairen Zhen, who was walking happily, eating cotton candy.

"What does it matter? The magic exam just seemed easier."

"What?! You... seriously?"

Huang Bao Shuzheng's face turned as red as a beet, as if Huang Bao Tieshu had somehow figured out her feelings.

'What, what? Did I show my feelings so clearly that even this clueless guy noticed?'

Revealing feelings of affection, even to family, was embarrassing.

But the feared event didn't happen. Huang Bao Tieshu was even more clueless than she thought.

"Finally, you've realized the charm of magic?"

Huang Bao Shuzheng thought for the first time that it was fortunate her twin brother was so clueless.

"Ah."

Bairen Zhen, eating cotton candy and listening to their conversation, recalled that Huang Bao Shuzheng hadn't been in the written exam room.

'Magic exam...? She must have skipped the written exam for me.'

He felt something in his heart, a mix of gratitude and discomfort.

'Is this what they call guilt?'

It was a faint feeling, but enough for him to notice.

* * *

The bulletin board in front of the academy was crowded with students eager to see the entrance exam results.

Nangong Zongshu, whom they had briefly met on the exam day, was also there, waiting in front of the bulletin board.

With slightly slanted eyes, a neatly styled pompadour, a white tailored suit, and pointed shoes, he was perfectly dressed, waiting with his chin in his hand.

"Hey! Zongshu, you're here early?!"

"It's Nangong Zongshu. By the way, Shuzheng, you seem to have a more mature charm every time I see you. Like a peony in bloom."

"Um, yeah. Hi, Zongshu."

Nangong Zongshu, after a light greeting to Huang Bao Shuzheng, felt a strange tension as he looked at Bairen Zhen, who was standing silently.

'What's this strange feeling I get from this written exam guy?'

Nangong Zongshu began to scrutinize Bairen Zhen from head to toe, trying to find the source of his discomfort.

Unusually long hair, like an old martial artist, a height slightly above average, deep, dark eyes, and a calm demeanor.

'Even from the first time I saw him...'

This Bairen Zhen is quite handsome.

After observing Bairen Zhen for a while, he finally found the source of his discomfort.

'This guy... seems like he'll be quite popular.'

He had initially dismissed Bairen Zhen as just another written exam candidate, but upon closer inspection, he realized this guy would likely be as popular as himself if he entered the academy.

'But, no matter what, looks aren't everything.'

Despite his superior physical attributes, he was confident that he, who had read over 50 best-selling romance novels, would still outshine him.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Nangong Zongshu from the Nangong family, one of the future Five Dragons."

Bairen Zhen, who had been staring at Nangong Zongshu, shook his hand.

"Bairen Zhen."

Nangong Zongshu's brows twitched at the short response.

'What a rude guy.'

Seeing Bairen Zhen's indifferent expression and his name alone, Nangong Zongshu unconsciously injected some inner energy into the handshake, gripping it tightly.

Of course, he considered Bairen Zhen's status as a written exam candidate and didn't grip too hard, but it was still quite painful. Watching Bairen Zhen endure it with a blank face, he thought:

'Could this guy have read the line on page 66 of "Love Passionately," which says "Enduring pain makes a man"?'

It was possible. A guy with this kind of aura would have read that famous romance novel.

'But I've read it 66 times.'

While Nangong Zongshu was lost in his own thoughts, someone approached Bairen Zhen.

"Hey? Bairen Zhen?"

"......Hailin?"

Hailin, the blonde elf who had traveled with him from the Kaphtis Mountains to the Green Leaf Village, had a dark expression upon seeing Bairen Zhen.

'This is uncomfortable... I hoped I wouldn't run into this person.'

But showing her discomfort was too scary. She decided it was better to smile and greet him.

"Nice to see you again... I see you arrived at the Huang Bao family safely."

"Yes."

"Who are you? Do you know this elf lady with the charm of a rape flower?"

Nangong Zongshu wasn't the only one curious. When Hailin appeared, Huang Bao Shuzheng, who was nearby, perked up her ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.

But before their curiosity was satisfied, Huang Bao Tieshu butted in.

"Hey! Hailin, it's me, Charles. I visited your village a lot for trade, remember?"

"Ah, yes, Charles."

She remembered. His name was Huang Bao Tieshu, but he introduced himself as Charles, a strange guy.

But the important thing now was Bairen Zhen, not Huang Bao Tieshu. The same went for Huang Bao Shuzheng and Nangong Zongshu.

'Oh, Bairen Zhen, this person is scary and uncomfortable. How will you survive in the academy?'

'This elf, why is she pretending to know this delinquent?'

'How does this guy know such a beautiful elf?'

Their reasons were different, but the core was Bairen Zhen.

As their subtle and nerve-wracking tension escalated, the students began to murmur.

"The results are out!"

"What? Really? Move!"

"You move!"

Someone's shout turned the bulletin board area into a chaotic scene as students rushed to see the results.

Nangong Zongshu, Huang Bao Shuzheng, and Hailin, unable to finish their conversation, were swept away by the crowd, leaving only Huang Bao Tieshu beside Bairen Zhen.

"Jin, let's go check the results."

"Sure."

They headed to the bulletin board, but due to the crowd, it took a while to see the results.

The bulletin board listed the students' rankings in stark detail, a fitting approach for an academy co-founded by the competitive Mage's Tower and Wu Lin Alliance.

1. Murong Shi (Murong Family)

2. Nangong Zongshu (Nangong Family)

3. Yuan Jue (Shaolin)

4. Xue Hayun (Ice Palace)

5. Timo Mavro (Black Root Village)

... 200. Jiang Tiemou (Taishan Sect)

1. Louise (Mage's Tower)

2. Laika (Mage's Tower)

3. Elia Azuro (Green Leaf Village)

4. Hailin Azuro (Green Leaf Village)

5. Nam Yunjae (Small Sects Alliance - Mosan Sect)

... 200. Jack (Mage's Tower)

1. Zhuge Wuxue (Five Great Families - Zhuge Family)

2. Luca Redstorm (Mage's Tower)

3. Yan Zixue (Rogue Guild)

4. Xia Caiyun (Sichuan Exam Academy)

5. Evan Morrison (Mage's Tower)

... 200. Yuel (Self-study)

Bairen Zhen searched through all the names of the successful candidates in the written exam but couldn't find his own.

'I failed.'

He didn't feel particularly emotional. He thought that if he passed, he would attend the academy, and if not, he would return to the lair.

'What should I tell Grandfather?'

Just as he was about to say goodbye to the Huang Bao twins and return to the lair, Huang Bao Tieshu tapped Bairen Zhen's shoulder and shouted urgently.

"Jin! Your name is over there!"

In a corner of the bulletin board, Bairen Zhen's name was being written in real-time.