Chapter 50

Teaching the Disciple Regulations to the disciples, Tianchong continued until a flying talisman arrived, notifying them that it was time for dinner, marking the end of the session.

The college cafeteria is called Qianwei Xuan. As the name suggests, it offers a variety of exquisite foods from Qixia, basically anything you can think of.

However, upon entering, they realized things were not as good as they had imagined.

Fifteen hundred students went to the cafeteria for dinner, but there was only one serving window!

One!

The queue of fifteen hundred people stretched from inside the hall to outside, forming a super long line.

Tianchong and Tang Jie arrived a bit late and were immediately startled by the scene.

Tianchong exclaimed, "Why are there so many people? How long will we have to wait?"

"Less talk, hurry up and queue," Tang Jie said, pulling Tianchong to the back of the line.

Tianchong, who had never experienced this, shouted, "No way, I'll see if I can go to the front."

"Little Master," Tang Jie said with a pained expression, "Apply what you've learned!"

Tianchong was startled and looked around, but saw nothing, and asked in a low voice, "Are they all hiding?"

"Do you need to ask?" Tang Jie snorted.

Before long, events unfolded as Tang Jie had predicted.

A young master from some family, seeing the long queue, tried to skip it and get his food directly. Suddenly, two students in moon-white robes appeared in the hall like ghosts, and with a sinister laugh, dragged the young master aside. After a few whispered words, the young master turned pale, obediently took out his points card, and after a flash of light, the card returned to his hand.

The two students disappeared, and the young master returned to the queue, silently waiting his turn.

Tianchong was sweating profusely: "Everywhere is a trap, everywhere is a trap! This isn't a cultivation academy, it's a trap academy."

Many students lost points for not queuing properly, but fortunately, it was only one point. The problem was that the queue was too long.

After a long wait, Tianchong and his group finally got their food. Looking at the food, Tianchong immediately shouted, "What the hell is this?"

A bowl of coarse rice, two slices of salted meat, a few cauliflower florets, and a bowl of clear soup.

Even Shimeng was taken aback.

"Didn't they say the food in the academy is all spirit food?" Tianchong angrily asked, "Didn't they say Qianwei Xuan has everything? What is this? Even pigs wouldn't eat it!"

Tang Jie pointed to the sign above the cafeteria, which read: "Spirit food, ten servings, first come, first served. Fine food, one hundred servings, first come, first served. Coarse food, unlimited."

Tang Jie pointed to the bowl of food: "See? Like Li Yu's spirit wine, it's limited. If you come late, you can only eat coarse food. Let's try to come earlier next time."

Tianchong was almost in tears: "Is there no other way?"

"There is, there's a paid window over there," Tang Jie pointed to a corner.

Tianchong saw that there was indeed a small window open. He went over and was startled: "A bowl of fine rice costs one spirit coin?"

"A bowl of pork costs three spirit coins," Shimeng also shook her head sadly.

"A serving of spirit food costs ten spirit coins," Tang Jie also felt helpless.

This is too much!

"Really, I wonder how the students here manage to survive," Shimeng sighed.

Hearing this, Tang Jie's mind stirred.

Right?

Why haven't I seen the senior students buying food here?

Looking around, almost all the students in the cafeteria were freshmen.

How do the senior students eat?

But even if he asked, it would be in vain. The only senior students Tang Jie and his group could contact were the monitors, who were all eyeing their points. Asking them for information would be like sending a lamb to the slaughter. He could only think about it later.

Regardless of whether they accepted it or not, Tianchong finally gritted his teeth and bought a bowl of fine rice, a fish, and a bowl of clear soup. As for Tang Jie and the others, they could only eat coarse food.

While eating, they cursed the Xiyue Academy, and occasionally saw someone lose points, which made them feel a bit better.

Happiness sometimes has to be built on others' suffering.

In just a short while, seven or eight people had already lost points, and they could only queue up with sad faces.

Tianchong wanted to see what would happen if someone got angry and caused a commotion, but unfortunately, there were no such idiots.

However, as he watched, he felt something was off. Tianchong asked, "Why are only the young masters unlucky, and none of the servant students?"

"There's nothing strange about that. Young masters, who have never suffered, are the easiest to trick. Unlike us servants, who are used to it," Tang Jie replied.

Tianchong suddenly understood: "No wonder that student specifically picked on me... Wait, what do you mean by that? Do you feel that I make you suffer a lot?"

Tang Jie laughed: "Look at what you're saying, Master. I'm talking about most people, not you."

"Then you mean I'm good?"

"Of course, Master, you treat us servants as friends, and your magnanimity is unparalleled," Tang Jie replied without blushing.

"Good to know," Tianchong felt satisfied.

Then he saw Tang Jie's chopsticks reaching over and taking a large piece of fish from the bowl he had just bought for three spirit coins, and putting it in his mouth.

Tianchong was furious and wanted to teach Tang Jie a lesson, but then he remembered saying he treated servants as friends, so he couldn't do anything and had to endure it.

Shimeng, seeing Tang Jie eat the fish, also wanted to take a bite, but Tianchong, having learned his lesson, had already put the whole fish in his own bowl.

Shimeng, realizing she couldn't take the fish from Tianchong's bowl, could only give up and look at the bowl of coarse food and clear soup, feeling like crying.

Even as a servant, she had never eaten so poorly in the Wei family!

After dinner, the master and his two servants took a walk around the academy.

The environment of Xiyue Academy was truly beautiful. Everywhere they went, the scenery was picturesque.

Occasionally, a female cultivator would pass by, and Tianchong and Shimeng would stare, almost whistling.

At sixteen, their bodies were developing, and they were beginning to appreciate the beauty of women.

Unfortunately, Xiyue Academy had more males than females, with only one female cultivator for every ten students. Therefore, these female cultivators were all high and mighty and rarely paid attention to the males.

As they walked, Tianchong suddenly said, "I understand now."

"What do you understand, Master?" Tang Jie asked.

"In this Xiyue Academy, everything has to be fought for!" Tianchong said with a hint of resentment. "The spirit wine, the points, even the food, everything has to be fought for. The only thing that doesn't need to be fought for is going to the toilet!"

"Exactly," Shimeng agreed.

"Just understanding this isn't enough, Master. Apply what you've learned," Tang Jie reminded him.

"I understand what you mean. If I'm not mistaken..." Tianchong shook his head and said in a self-important tone, "Tomorrow's class will also be a fight. There might only be a few seats, and if you come late, you'll have to stand and listen."

Tang Jie punched his palm: "Master, you finally get it!"

Tianchong laughed three times, full of pride.

After a while, he suddenly changed his expression: "Damn, does that mean I can't sleep in anymore?"

"You'll have to get up before dawn," Tang Jie said casually. "Don't worry, I'll wake you up."

On the way back, Tang Jie found a piece of wood and took it with him.

Tianchong, curious, asked what it was for, and Tang Jie said he was going to make a sign for their residence.

Xiyue Academy, despite the competition, valued a refined appearance. Students often added elegant names to their residences, such as "Wolong轩," "Qingxin堂," and "Mingzhi居."

Tang Jie, thinking he would live here for ten years, decided to name his residence.

Tianchong found this very interesting and, along with Shimeng, also found a piece of wood to take back.

Tang Jie named his residence "Taoran居," seeking a life of great freedom and ease, though it didn't quite match his mindset, it had a sense of transcendence and freedom.

Shimeng, being simpler, thought that since it was about being refined, she would name it "Fengya亭."

When it came to Tianchong, he racked his brain but couldn't think of a good name, so he decided to use an old name.

With a big brush stroke, he wrote "Jingxin园" on the sign, but the characters were crooked.

—————————————

In a room in the Student Forest, numbered Yulin 45.

But privately, it was known as "Eagle Nest."

In the Eagle Nest, Gu Changqing was sitting at a desk, reading through a stack of documents.

These were all the files of the new students, which the Heavenly Palace had obtained at great cost.

As he read, he occasionally wrote comments, or requested that someone be observed or closely monitored.

Just as he was studying, a man in a golden robe rushed in: "Good news..."

"Out!" Gu Changqing said without looking up.

The man in the golden robe was taken aback, and Gu Changqing shouted again: "Out, learn to knock before you enter!"

The man's face twitched, but he held his breath, turned, and left the room. After closing the door, he knocked again: "Your subordinate Zhao Xinguo has something to report to Deputy Eagle Master!"

"Come in."

Zhao Xinguo pushed the door open and said, "During the new student orientation, a student named Tang Jie stood up and shouted loudly."

"Then what?"

"Then?" Zhao Xinguo was puzzled: "Then... he shouted that he, Tang Jie, would definitely be one of the top ten disciples..."

Gu Changqing finally looked up, his eyes showing a hint of amusement: "Is this your good news?"

Zhao Xinguo took a deep breath: "All the new students were nervous and dared not speak loudly, but this one stood out. Also, his name is Tang Jie, which I find very suspicious."

Gu Changqing looked at him deeply and pointed to a chair: "Sit down."

Zhao Xinguo sat down, but Gu Changqing ignored him and continued to handle his work.

Zhao Xinguo, growing impatient, called out, "Sir," but was silenced by Gu Changqing's sharp gaze and had to sit there.

After a while, there was another knock: "Eagle Master Gao Fei has something to report to Eagle Master Gu."

"Come in."

Another man entered, but he was not in a golden robe, but in a coarse robe. He bowed slightly to Gu Changqing and said, "A new student named Tang Jie, who bears some resemblance to our target, has been discovered."

"My junior, you're late. I already told Deputy Eagle Master. Remember, speed is key!" Zhao Xinguo said lazily, his tone full of pride.

Gao Fei just smiled: "Zhao Senior's reaction is naturally very quick, I can't match it."

"What have you found out?" Gu Changqing asked, ignoring Zhao Xinguo.

"After investigation, this person is named Tang Jie, with a different character but the same pronunciation. He comes from Canglong Prefecture, is a servant student of the Wei family's young master, Wei Tianchong, and is at the fifth level of Yumen. Due to the long time, his height no longer matches the original records, but his appearance does somewhat match Tang Jie. However, as you said, there are too many people who match Tang Jie's characteristics, so I asked around and found out that this Tang Jie entered the Wei family three years ago, and his background is still unknown and needs further investigation."

"Three years... Canglong Prefecture... Wei family..." Gu Changqing smiled: "That's worth investigating."

He looked at Zhao Xinguo: "Information not only needs to be fast but also as detailed as possible."

Zhao Xinguo's face turned red, and he couldn't speak.

Gao Fei said, "But it's strange. If this Tang Jie is the person we're looking for, he should have avoided us, not come forward."

Zhao Xinguo finally got his chance and said disdainfully, "Do you need to ask? Maybe he guessed that someone was secretly observing the students' reactions, knew that retreating would be suspicious, and deliberately created a false impression to make us think he couldn't be Tang Jie. The most dangerous place is the safest, after all."

"Bullshit!"

To Zhao Xinguo's surprise, Gu Changqing slapped the desk, creating a palm-shaped hole in the redwood desk, and roared at Zhao Xinguo: "What nonsense? If the most dangerous place is the safest, then the most dangerous place is the Golden Flame Gale. Can he fly up there? Is a place that can hide you dangerous?"

Zhao Xinguo, scolded by Gu Changqing, defended himself: "...I meant the most dangerous place is... a mental blind spot."

"A mental blind spot is a lack of foresight. Only the incompetent would rely on their opponents making mistakes!" Gu Changqing said harshly: "He, Tang Jie, because he knows retreating would be suspicious, so he deliberately stands up and shouts? Then we won't suspect him? What kind of logic is this? Aren't we suspecting him now? If he's that kind of person, he's the biggest idiot in the world. Do you think such an idiot could have evaded our three years of close investigation? Useless, get out!"

Zhao Xinguo, both ashamed and angry, had to bow and leave.

Gao Fei, watching Zhao Xinguo leave, frowned: "Eagle Master, Zhao Senior is the son of Zhao Zhenren. Isn't it a bit too much to scold him like that?"

"If he weren't the son of Zhao Zhenren, would I tolerate this useless person?" Gu Changqing snorted: "I'm tired of him. Just because he's the son of a Zhenren, I'm not afraid of him!"

Gao Fei secretly laughed but didn't dare to comment.

Gu Changqing then said to Gao Fei: "This Tang Jie, number 96, is temporarily listed as a B-level target. Investigate his background first, and follow the procedures."