Jiang Qingli stared stiffly at Ye Linyuan.
Ling Sheng, who had been watching her the entire time, grew even more smug.
'She'd been chasing his brother for over a month and hadn't shown up to the academy. If she gets penalized for this class, she'll fail it!'
'Let's see how humiliated she'll be then!'
He looked toward Ye Linyuan and urged, "Cousin, look at my injury!"
Ye Linyuan glanced over, then looked at Jiang Qingli. "Anything to say?"
"Professor Ye." Jiang Qingli bit her lip, lowering her eyes innocently. "It was just... an accident."
"Is that so?"
Ye Linyuan's voice was low. It should have been an accusation, but the final syllable curved upward, like a tiny, imperceptible hook.
Jiang Qingli nodded, her expression exceptionally frail.
"Lies!" Ling Sheng said. "She's just taking her anger out on me because my brother dumped her and she's been picking up a few trashy F Level males!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Ye Linyuan shot him a cold look, and Ling Sheng immediately fell silent.
'Damn it, I forgot. This cousin of mine is also a useless F Level, and he only became a special adjunct professor this semester thanks to the family's patronage...'
As they were in a stalemate, the bell rang.
Ye Linyuan's expression was cold. "Class is starting."
"But..." Ling Sheng tried to say more.
Ye Linyuan's tone was frigid. "Shut up."
The two short words carried an intense pressure that made it hard to breathe.
As Ye Linyuan passed Jiang Qingli, he paused for a moment. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, his brows knitting together as if in condemnation.
Jiang Qingli blinked innocently.
Ye Linyuan huffed, pulling his gaze away and not looking at her again.
However, upon reaching the practice area, Jiang Qingli's terminal received a message.
Ye Linyuan: [Come with me after class.]
Jiang Qingli: [?]
Ye Linyuan: [I can overlook your 'accident,' but you'll need to provide payment.]
Jiang Qingli: [No money.]
Ye Linyuan: [You're short on money?]
[Imperial First Bank Notification: User 'Ye Linyuan' has enabled account sharing with you. You may now use his account balance.]
Ye Linyuan: [Do it once.]
Jiang Qingli: "..."
Even though she knew he meant Spiritual Healing, his tone really made it easy to get the wrong idea.
-
After grouping up, they quickly entered the simulated combat environment for training.
Jiang Qingli stepped into the device.
She closed her eyes and opened them again. Before her now lay a dilapidated, corroded urban landscape.
Translucent text appeared before her eyes: [Welcome to the beginner shooting course. Target: Mutant Beast x3]
[Your score will be determined by a combination of time, accuracy, and personal health loss.]
The simulated environment was incredibly realistic; the stench of corrosion assaulted her senses.
Most star systems had fallen into darkness. Outside the Blue Star Twelve Cities, natural disasters raged and ferocious Mutant Beasts ran rampant.
The Empire had stabilized the situation for now, but for the sake of the future, all institutions of higher learning included mandatory military courses.
Although the Jiang Family had produced several generals, the original owner of this body was terrible at this sort of thing. She had barely scraped by in her close-quarters combat and boxing classes over the past two years.
Jiang Qingli was prepared to end up at the bottom of the rankings with Qin Muye.
However, when a giant Mutant Beast charged in their direction, Jiang Qingli subconsciously drew her gun and raised her hand.
A laser bullet shot out, striking the Mutant Beast square between the eyes!
With a pained shriek, the Mutant Beast dissolved into a shower of electric particles.
[Congratulations to student Jiang Qingli on securing the first kill!]
[Current Ranking: 1/73]
[Remaining Targets: 2]
Jiang Qingli was stunned.
Beside her, Qin Muye, who had just stretched out a hand to protect her, narrowed his eyes.
Before she could process what had happened, another shrill scream erupted from behind them.
Two Mutant Beasts charged at them in a frenzy.
Qin Muye grabbed the dazed female, tackling her into a roll on the ground.
Snow leopard ears sprouted from the top of Qin Muye's head as he carried Jiang Qingli to slightly higher ground.
"Try again." Qin Muye lifted Jiang Qingli's hand.
Jiang Qingli aimed at one of the Mutant Beasts.
As if she had practiced it countless times, she hit the Mutant Beast with ease.
Her aim wasn't as good this time; she only hit its wing.
The two Mutant Beasts locked onto their position and began stumbling toward them.
Perhaps it was a boost from his snow leopard traits, but Qin Muye was incredibly agile and fast. He dodged all over the place while carrying Jiang Qingli, occasionally raising his hand to take a shot at the Mutant Beasts.
But the Mutant Beasts' relentless attacks gradually put them at a disadvantage.
Jiang Qingli frowned in frustration and timidly suggested, "Maybe we should just find a place to hide?"
'She remembered the simulation training usually lasted half an hour.'
'If they could just find a place to hide and lay low for long enough, they could still get a passing grade.'
"Why run?" Qin Muye scoffed, taking her hand from behind.
He guided her hand, aiming the gun at the Mutant Beasts.
Qin Muye's voice was calm. "Now."
Jiang Qingli focused her attention and squeezed the trigger hard!
The bullet struck both Mutant Beasts in the head at the same time!
A mist of blood scattered.
At the same time, a line of large text appeared within every simulation environment—
[Congratulations to students Jiang Qingli and Qin Muye on achieving the Fastest Kill!]
[Congratulations to student Jiang Qingli on completing the 'Two Birds, One Stone' achievement!]
The entire class was in an uproar.
Bai Yiyi, who had just struggled to kill a single Mutant Beast with Chi Yun, stared wide-eyed, her expression twisting.
'How is that possible?!'
'Jiang Qingli was supposed to be terrible at this stuff!'
'How could she...'
'This has to be fake!'
'Jiang Qingli must have cheated!'
Suppressing her panic, Bai Yiyi said to Chi Yun with feigned surprise, "My cousin is so amazing! She actually took down two at once. It looks like she's been practicing hard this past month!"
Chi Yun, who was staring at the electronic broadcast, immediately snapped back to his senses.
"Her? Impossible!" Chi Yun sneered. "She definitely cheated. If she's actually that good, I'll stand on my head and eat shit!"
"This system is so outdated, it can't even detect such obvious cheating!" Chi Yun seethed. "I'm going to report her as soon as this is over!"
As he fumed, a Mutant Beast swiped at them, sending them both flying and giving them a mouthful of acid rain and mud.
-
Quite a few people thought Jiang Qingli had cheated.
After class, Chi Yun, along with several other students from noble families on par with the Jiang Family, cornered Ye Linyuan as he was leaving and demanded he investigate Jiang Qingli thoroughly.
"There's no way Jiang Qingli could be number one, she definitely cheated!"
"That's right! She must have had someone hack the system! This isn't the first time she's done something like this, last semester she had someone take her Imperial History exam for her!"
"We all trained our butts off! Why should a cheater like her get the highest score?!"
The voices grew loud and shrill, and someone even reached for Jiang Qingli's hand.
Before they could touch her, however, Qin Muye gently pulled her behind him.
"Get lost!" Qin Muye's gray-blue eyes blazed with fury, like a wild beast whose territory had been invaded.
He was protecting Jiang Qingli so fiercely.
The group of nobles hesitated.
Chi Yun's gaze fell on their clasped hands, making him even more irritated. He raised his voice. "Is the Prince going to cover for a cheater?"
"Try saying that again." Qin Muye stepped forward, grabbing him by the collar.
His strength was astonishing; Chi Yun found himself unable to fight back.
'How is this possible? I'm an S Level!'
'And Qin Muye is just a useless F Level!'
During the standoff, Bai Yiyi spoke up.
She bit her lip and looked at Ye Linyuan. "Teacher Ye, my cousin is a first-time offender. Could you please not report this to the academy? She can't afford another demerit..."
Jiang Qingli nearly rolled her eyes.
'It was like Bai Yiyi was afraid she *wouldn't* get in trouble.'
"I didn't cheat."
Jiang Qingli stepped forward, her voice clear, neither timid nor arrogant.
Chi Yun immediately said, "What proof do you have that you didn't cheat?"
Jiang Qingli raised her eyes. "What proof do you have that I did cheat?"
"You—" Chi Yun practically jumped in frustration.
In the midst of the clamor, Ye Linyuan announced the verdict: "She didn't cheat."
"How is that possible?!"
After a few seconds of silence, his words made the crowd erupt again.
"Professor Ye, you know Jiang Qingli, don't you?!"
"You can't be biased just because you're a professor!"
Bai Yiyi felt uneasy and was about to say something more, but she heard a calm and unhurried voice from behind—
"Why is it impossible?"
"Three years ago, on the university placement exam, Jiang Qingli scored straight A's on the physical fitness portion."