Chapter 72

## Chapter 72. Let's See Your Skills?

After checking the application forms and identification at the main gate, the three finally entered the interior of the Blue Dragon Academy.

"Wow! I'm actually entering the Blue Dragon Academy...!"

"How long is this old man going to be moved?"

"Hahaha."

The registration for admission was conducted at the main building of the Blue Dragon Academy.

Since the identity verification was already completed at the main gate, the registration process itself was quick.

The examiner, who confirmed Gongsun Shou's age, asked with a puzzled look.

"Are you really the one who came to apply? You're not here to apply on behalf of your child or disciple, are you?"

It was a potentially impolite question, but Gongsun Shou laughed heartily as if he was in a good mood.

"Hehehe. I'm the one who came to apply!"

Then, he bent his arm and showed the examiner a small bicep.

"What does age matter in learning? Feel it. I endured hellish training for this day!"

"Ah, yes..."

"Just in case, have you ever seen an applicant older than yourself?"

"...In the ten years I've worked here, you are the oldest."

"Hehehehe! I knew it! How old are you?"

"I'm forty-four, but..."

"Young, aren't you? If you set your mind to it, you can do it anytime!"

"Ah, yes..."

"Old man. Stop being ridiculous..."

After a series of twists and turns, the three completed the registration and left the main building.

"Then, you two should look around a bit before you go."

Xian Yuanjiang had a look like a cow being led to slaughter.

He didn't just come to the Blue Dragon Academy to guide the two; he had other business to attend to after this.

"Damn. A meeting with the headmaster..."

As a condition for leaving the dormitory, Xian Yuanjiang had to regularly report to Mai Jielian on how he was doing.

Of course, he had worked hard enough over the past month to be confident in front of Mai Jielian, but he still didn't like it.

"...Anyway, see you later."

"Senior. I'll see you at the White Dragon Hall tonight."

"Come back safely."

Xian Yuanjiang headed to the dormitory, clearly showing his displeasure.

With only Wei Zhichuan and Gongsun Shou left, they planned to tour the Blue Dragon Academy.

"Shall we start with the training ground?"

"The library is probably off-limits to non-students, right?"

As their steps quickened with excitement, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Wei Zhichuan?"

Wei Zhichuan turned around at the unfamiliar voice.

The person who called him smiled.

"Is that you?"

He was a tall, thin boy with narrow eyes and a thin, curled lip, giving off a sly impression.

Wei Zhichuan tilted his head, as he had never seen this person before.

"Who are you...?"

"Are you Baishu Long, or rather, Baishu Long's disciple?"

"..."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Zhaomao Sheng. I receive martial arts tutoring from Namgung Shu."

Zhaomao Sheng smiled widely and extended his hand. Wei Zhichuan shook it awkwardly.

The moment they shook hands, Zhaomao Sheng's eyes gleamed coldly.

'Look at this? He's just a kid.'

Having quickly assessed his opponent, Zhaomao Sheng smiled innocently again. He pointed to the back with his chin and said,

"The kids over there are my tutoring classmates."

A boy with a stern expression and a girl with a reserved look were looking at them.

"Ah, yes... I'm Wei Zhichuan. Nice to meet you."

Wei Zhichuan felt an odd sense of discomfort from them but couldn't ignore them since they had introduced themselves with a smile.

"I happened to hear your name as we passed by. I remember hearing about you from Baishu Long."

"Me? Why..."

"What? You don't know at all?"

"Know what..."

Zhaomao Sheng suddenly chuckled and turned to Namgung Shu and Jin Jin behind him.

"Did you forget about the bet?"

"Hmph. You probably didn't even mention it because you knew you'd lose. It's a miracle if you don't run away."

"..."

Jin Jin turned her head away, snickering as if she didn't want to deal with him.

Namgung Shu, on the other hand, remained silent, watching Wei Zhichuan intently.

"What? What bet...?"

Seeing Wei Zhichuan's innocent and clueless expression, Zhaomao Sheng's urge to torment him grew.

That was his nature.

Seeing someone happy made him want to make them cry in pain, and seeing someone pretending to be innocent made him want to defile them.

"You're pretty good, right? Baishu Long spoke highly of you. He said you're the top student this year."

"Me? No, no. Why would the teacher say such a burdensome thing..."

Wei Zhichuan waved his hands in genuine confusion. Zhaomao Sheng's eyes narrowed even more, and his smile deepened.

"Oh, modesty. There must be a reason for him to say that."

"Haha... Thank you."

How could he torment this small and weak creature?

Should he make him wet his pants in front of everyone?

Or provoke him to attack and then teach him a lesson?

'The exam is only four days away, so I can't cause a big incident... But there are many ways to do it.'

As Zhaomao Sheng's sadistic smile deepened, Gongsun Shou, who had been watching them, chuckled and joined the conversation.

"Hmm. Namgung Shu, isn't he one of the top teachers at the Blue Dragon Academy?"

Zhaomao Sheng, seeing the unfamiliar old man, asked with a slightly wary look.

"Who are you, old man?"

"Hehehe. No need to be formal. I'm also an applicant for the admission test, just like you."

"Really?"

For a moment, he thought he had heard wrong.

Zhaomao Sheng's narrow eyes widened.

Gongsun Shou burst into laughter and extended his hand to Zhaomao Sheng.

"Since we might become classmates, let's introduce ourselves. I'm Gongsun Shou."

"Ah..."

Zhaomao Sheng shook hands awkwardly, as Wei Zhichuan had done. He still asked with a suspicious look.

"Really an applicant like us?"

Gongsun Shou, still laughing, put his arm around Wei Zhichuan and said,

"This friend and I are learning martial arts together at Baishu Long's place."

"Excuse me, but your age..."

"I'm sixty-five this year. I'm in the prime of my youth!"

Winking, Gongsun Shou bent his arm to show a small bicep, and Zhaomao Sheng, who had been relaxed, burst out laughing.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to laugh..."

"It's fine. At my age, I laugh at falling leaves."

Gongsun Shou smiled kindly. Zhaomao Sheng also smiled awkwardly, but inside, he was seething.

'What? This old man is going to be my fellow applicant?'

He had heard about it on the way, but he thought the Blue Dragon Academy had really hit rock bottom.

If they were accepting someone who could die at any moment, it meant their standards had dropped that low.

'He'll fail the exam in four days anyway...'

The mere thought that this old man thought he could do it was infuriating.

Zhaomao Sheng was still smiling, but inside, he was boiling with anger.

Gongsun Shou continued to chuckle in front of him.

'This one will be more fun to torment.'

Zhaomao Sheng's eyes gleamed coldly as he changed his target.

An old man who was too embarrassed to know his limits and was trying to learn martial arts.

He couldn't just stand by and watch this farce.

"Old man. Since we met, it's a kind of fate."

Hee.

Zhaomao Sheng continued with a friendly smile.

"Let's have a light sparring session to get to know each other better, shall we?"

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes shone like a snake's.

Zhaomao Sheng was sure the old man wouldn't refuse.

'An old fool. He'll jump at the chance to play with young kids.'

Sure enough, as Zhaomao Sheng had expected, Gongsun Shou's eyes lit up at the word 'sparring.'

"Ah, sparring?"

He had always sparred with Wei Zhichuan, Xian Yuanjiang, and Hei Ying, so a new opponent was naturally exciting.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason.

"Is there a place around here suitable for sparring?"

"I know. I've been here a few times. Wei Zhichuan, are you coming too?"

"Hmm..."

Gongsun Shou pulled Wei Zhichuan's sleeve and said,

"It sounds fun. Why don't we go together?"

At that moment, Wei Zhichuan saw something.

Gongsun Shou's smile, turned towards him, was different from the kind and gentle ones he had seen before. It was a sharp, blade-like smile.

Gulp.

Wei Zhichuan, unknowingly tense, swallowed hard.

One thing was clear.

Gongsun Shou hadn't agreed to the sparring session for no reason.

"Yes... I