Chapter 57: The Beautiful Girl Mu Qing

Mu Qing was feeling quite frustrated at the moment. Because her sister had been collecting items related to bloodlines, she had been sent to the trading district today to see if there was anything suitable.

But bloodline items were not so easy to come by. She had wandered around the trading district for nearly the entire morning, yet hadn’t even glimpsed the shadow of such a thing.

Fortunately, her luck as a vibrant young beauty hadn’t failed her. In a secluded corner of the trading district, she actually spotted a bloodline item! Only... the seller was simply too shameless!

Mu Qing glared furiously at Si Kongxu, who sat across from her, feasting without restraint. Her mood was teetering on the brink of anger.

Back at school, countless boys would leap at the chance to dine with her, given her status as a youthful beauty. This guy was lucky she’d taken a fancy to his bloodline item.

If it had been anyone else, they would have eagerly handed over the item to her. But this detestable fellow not only set a high price, he also insisted she treat him to a meal before he’d agree to lower it. If her sister hadn’t been in desperate need of a bloodline potion, she would have already lost her temper with him.

“Why aren’t you eating? It’s awkward if I’m the only one at the table,” Si Kongxu said, savoring the lavish meal.

Dawn Academy lived up to its name—even the dormitory meals were delicious. If he hadn’t already eaten once before leaving the house that morning, he would have sampled everything on the table.

If Si Kongxu hadn’t drawn attention to the food, Mu Qing’s anger might have subsided a little. But now she was fuming even more.

He had racked up a bill of 50 credits for this meal! Fifty credits! Without her sister’s help, that was nearly a third of what she’d earned in an entire month since the start of term. This meal alone could cost her half her life!

“Hmm, not bad—delicious,” Si Kongxu said, quite deliberately tormenting the girl. After all, her earlier attitude had been truly grating.

“Right, what’s your name?” Si Kongxu asked, his mouth still half-full.

“Mu Qing.” Her face was stony.

“Mu Qing?” Si Kongxu paused, surprised. Though it was their first meeting, her name was already well-known throughout the first-year cohort, just like his.

Both of them had reputations that preceded them—one positive, one less so.

As he ate, Si Kongxu recalled the details. He was no stranger to her name—Mu Qing, like himself, was a freshman newly enrolled in Dawn Academy this year. But she was a student of the elite Class A, the very best among the first years.

Because of her stunning looks and figure, Mu Qing’s fame had spread throughout the school within days of her arrival.

She was renowned even school-wide, recognized as the year’s belle and counted among the academy’s most celebrated beauties.

A girl like her could have relied solely on her looks, yet she happened to be blessed with remarkable talent as well.

Mu Qing was beautiful, but far from a mere ornament. Upon enrolling, she had been assessed as possessing an A-rank talent—the Heavenly Fire Spirit Body.

Talents, like skills and bloodlines, were graded, and A-rank was exceedingly rare; not even ten students in the entire academy could boast such a gift.

For Si Kongxu not to know of her would have been impossible.

It was worth noting that Si Kongxu’s own talent hadn’t been detected at the entrance exam. He’d only discovered he possessed a gift later, through the “Dawn Brain” system.

“Well, well—are you stunned to hear the great Mu Qing’s name?” she said, looking pleased at his distraction. “Let me tell you, being treated to a meal by a beauty like me is the sort of luck you could boast about for a lifetime!”

“Tch, you?” Si Kongxu took a bite of pastry, disdainfully adding, “No chest, no curves—your face is just passable at best.”

“You—! Hmph, I won’t stoop to your level.” Mu Qing pouted, lips flushed. “You’ve eaten your fill—hand over the potion.”

“Alright, three thousand credits as agreed. I’m not cheating you,” Si Kongxu replied with an air of integrity.

“Not cheating me? How dare you! Do you realize this meal cost me fifty credits? That’s a third of everything I’ve earned this month!”

Mu Qing nearly exploded. Fifty credits went a long way at Dawn Academy!

“Well, are you buying or not? If not, I’m leaving.” Si Kongxu waved the potion temptingly in front of her.

“I’ll buy it! Of course I will!” Mu Qing gritted her teeth and transferred the three thousand credits via the imprint exchange, snatching the potion from his hand as soon as the transaction was complete.

“If my sister didn’t really need this bloodline item, I wouldn’t have wasted a meal on a pervert like you!”

“Alright, alright, young miss—be on your way, lest your presence irritate me further.”

Si Kongxu replied irritably. Her face was lovely enough, but her spoiled temperament left much to be desired. Not at all like his own sister, Ye Xi—also a beauty, but gentle and quiet by nature.

As someone with a penchant for doting on his younger sister, Si Kongxu naturally thought Mu Qing couldn’t compare. But thinking of his problematic little sister only gave him a headache.

After the meal, Si Kongxu set off for a stroll around campus, his stomach full. He suspected that, among all the first-years, only a student from Class E like himself could afford such leisure.

After all, students in other classes had schedules packed to the brim by their homeroom teachers. Only an oddball like Jiang Hong left his own students to their own devices.

As he wandered, Si Kongxu eventually found himself outside the Class E classroom, where he was surprised to see Jiang Hong slumped alone in a chair, apparently fast asleep.

“Teacher Jiang?” Si Kongxu called, exasperated. His homeroom teacher was truly an eccentric—falling asleep in the classroom, while other teachers were busy arranging lessons to help their students grow stronger.

But his own teacher was napping! Si Kongxu felt a sudden urge to hit someone.

“I get the sense you’re thinking very rude thoughts,” Jiang Hong remarked, his drowsy eyes briefly sparking with amusement.

“Uh…” Si Kongxu was embarrassed. Could Jiang really read his mind? Incredible!

“Where have you been?” Jiang Hong asked.

“Just wandering through the trading district.”

“Hmm…” Jiang Hong didn’t press further. “Looks like your recent training paid off—you’ve advanced to the early stage of Obsidian Black.”

This guy! He’d seen through him at a glance! Si Kongxu’s heart sank. Though Jiang Hong hadn’t uncovered everything, the fact he could immediately discern Si Kongxu’s level was intimidating enough.

“Haha, don’t look so grim, kid. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I checked your file on the ‘Dawn Brain’ just now. That S-minus rating nearly gave me a heart attack.” Jiang Hong spoke, eyes still half-closed.

So that was it—he’d seen it on the “Dawn Brain.” Si Kongxu relaxed, relieved.

“So, you must have something to tell me?” Si Kongxu asked. He was sure Jiang Hong’s sudden presence in the classroom had everything to do with him. After all, no one understood the significance of an S-minus rating better than Jiang Hong.

At this, Jiang Hong’s eyes narrowed a fraction, his entire demeanor growing more serious, the usual levity vanishing from his tone.

“Come with me—the principal wants to see you!”