Chapter 119: Elder Qi: This Isn't a Surprise, It's a Shock
At the disciples' recruitment site of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute—
A paper crane slowly flew toward the crowd, and everyone wore puzzled expressions.
The crane gently landed in front of Wang Baole and whispered something to him.
After listening, Wang Baole's face lit up with a happy smile. "Miss Nangong really came!"
Everyone around him cast gossiping glances in his direction, even Chu Feng set down his novel and watched Wang Baole with interest.
"Master, senior brothers and sisters, why are you all looking at me like that?"
Wang Baole felt a bit uncomfortable under their stares and asked instinctively.
Chu Feng chuckled and teased, "This master just wants to know which little cabbage has lured away the pig I've been raising with such care?"
The others immediately chimed in.
"Junior brother, the way you looked just now—definitely someone's waiting outside."
"Is it your fiancée who's not marrying you, but you're marrying into her family?"
"…"
Wang Baole shook his head in frustration. "Master, don't say that. Miss Nangong and I are just good friends. We once trained together outside. I heard she was joining Wendao Academy too, so we agreed to meet here."
"Oh."
Chu Feng nodded seriously. "This master believes you."
Everyone else also teased him with smiles. "Yes, yes, junior brother, we believe you."
Wang Baole wasn't a fool. Of course he could tell his master and senior siblings were speaking ironically, but he couldn't refute it. He couldn't very well drag Miss Nangong over here to clarify, could he?
Scratching his head, he said, "Master, I'm going to find Miss Nangong."
"Go on, go on—have fun!"
Chu Feng naturally didn't meddle too much in his disciples' private lives. Besides, the whole situation—being a live-in son-in-law, powerful legacy, getting dumped by his fiancée only to catch the eye of a noble beauty—was a plotline he knew well. He didn't expect little fatty to stack buffs like this. Saved him the trouble of worrying.
"Yes, Master." Wang Baole turned and left.
Seeing Wang Baole walk off, Xiao Chen and the others didn't continue gossiping. They were just curious about which family's young lady had such good taste.
Wang Baole followed the paper crane, weaving through the crowd. Soon, he saw two familiar figures.
From a distance, he raised his hand and called out, "Miss Nangong!"
Nangong Yu was chatting with Elder Qi when she heard the familiar voice. Her face instantly brightened with joy.
"Uncle, Young Master Wang is here!"
Everyone, including Elder Qi, looked toward the voice, and saw a chubby youth wearing the inner sect robe of Wendao Academy briskly walking over.
As soon as they saw Wang Baole's clothes, they all froze.
Even Elder Qi's face was full of shock. "Yu'er, don't tell me... this Nephew Wang is the disciple you wanted to recommend to your uncle?"
Only then did Nangong Yu come to her senses, blushing as she explained, "Uncle, I didn't know he was an inner sect disciple of Wendao Academy."
Elder Qi sighed helplessly. "You little girl... what you gave me wasn't a surprise—it was a shock!"
As for the trio beside them, any previous annoyance they felt vanished instantly. One by one, they felt a lingering sense of dread—thank goodness this guy in inner sect robes showed up, or they'd be in deep trouble.
When Wang Baole walked up, Nangong Yu smiled gently. "Young Master Wang, you really kept it from me. You didn't even tell me you were an inner sect disciple of Wendao Academy."
Wang Baole scratched his head sheepishly and smiled. "I wasn't an inner sect disciple back then. Plus, it was my first time venturing out, so I didn't reveal my identity. I hope Miss Nangong will forgive me."
As he finished speaking, he noticed Elder Qi beside them and immediately cupped his fists in greeting. "Disciple Wang Baole greets Elder Qi."
"No need to be so formal, Nephew Wang. I didn't expect you and little Yu to be friends. You must visit often from now on."
Elder Qi beamed with a smile, not putting on any airs at all.
"Of course."
Wang Baole responded with a grin and asked, "Miss Nangong, which institute are you planning to join?"
Nangong Yu replied, "I plan to join the Dao of Law Institute with my uncle. Which institute are you in?"
"I'm in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
Wang Baole had originally wanted to ask Miss Nangong if she met either of the two conditions his master had mentioned, but since she had already made her choice, he decided not to interfere further.
"Since you're going to take the entrance test, let's get in touch again in a few days."
Elder Qi heard this and immediately said, "No need to wait. With me here, the assessment will be over quickly. Then I'll trouble Nephew Wang to show Yu'er around the Wendao Academy."
Upon hearing this, Wang Baole turned to Nangong Yu and asked, "Miss Nangong, would you like me to be your guide?"
Though Nangong Yu didn't quite understand why her uncle was treating Young Master Wang with such respect, she still nodded slightly. "Uncle has something to attend to later. If you don't mind, Young Master Wang, then I'll trouble you."
Wang Baole didn't think much of it and said, "Alright, then I'll accompany you to the test and help you get familiar with Wendao Academy along the way."
Seeing him agree, Elder Qi led the group through the long queue to a relatively quiet testing area. Wang Baole didn't enter with them and waited outside instead. He believed that with Miss Nangong's ability, she'd pass the assessment without issue.
"Uncle, is Young Master Wang really that amazing?"
Nangong Yu was the first to ask what was on everyone's mind. The trio behind her also perked up their ears.
Elder Qi replied, "That kid? 'Amazing' doesn't even begin to describe him. He placed third in the Outer Sect Tournament, though in the hearts of many disciples, he was the real number one."
Elder Zhao murmured in awe, "Senior, could it be that Young Master Wang is the one who used a firewood knife to defeat countless opponents at the academy?"
"Mhm."
Elder Qi nodded slightly. "Besides his own strength, his senior brother is one of the candidates for Wendao Academy's Holy Son, and his master is the head of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. Yu'er, building a good relationship with him will only benefit you."
Nangong Yu was deeply shaken by this. She never imagined that the young man with the firewood knife she'd met in the Yunmeng Swamp was so extraordinary. She had clearly misjudged him.
At the same time, a carriage slowly came to a stop outside the gates of Wendao Academy.
The old man driving the carriage shouted, "Wendao Academy—everyone, please get off to take part in the entrance assessment!"
Inside the carriage, a group of eager young men and women stepped out one after another. A fair-skinned, handsome youth with long flowing hair was startled awake by the commotion.
He looked around in confusion. Then, as if recalling something, his eyes suddenly widened in shock—his face filled with disbelief.
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