Chapter Twenty-Two: Jiang Ningguang and Ge Xiangming

On the first page, Lian Yangxia displayed an unprecedented enthusiasm as she led Jiang Wangshu to the Academic Affairs Office for new student registration.

"Are you Jiang Wangshu?" The teacher at the registration desk raised an eyebrow and glanced disdainfully at Jiang Wangshu.

She nodded wearily, lacking the energy to engage further.

"You are a bit special; your scores are below the threshold, and you were recommended here. You need to register with the head of the Academic Affairs," the teacher said, throwing the registration form onto Jiang Wangshu's desk.

Around her, other new students and assisting students turned to look, their eyes filled with mockery as they whispered among themselves.

"I can’t believe she got in through the back door, tsk tsk tsk!"

"Not even knowing which back door she came through, but she’s not bad looking."

"Scores below the line, how pathetic!"

Jiang Wangshu was already feeling miserable, and the buzzing in her ears from the comments made it worse. She glared sideways at the loudest boy nearby, "Are you done? If you want to go through the back door, should I recommend you?"

"Though with your looks, you definitely don’t qualify."

"You all are so high-minded, so capable; why don’t you go to the First Immortal Academy? Is it because you don’t want to?"

She snatched up the registration form, scoffing, "Teacher Jiang Ningguang, right? I will report you to the principal! Your vile behavior has negatively affected my mental health, making me unstable and eager to go astray."

"You..." Jiang Ningguang slammed her hand on the table.

Jiang Wangshu wrapped her arms around herself, her face pale from nausea, which gave her a pitiful appearance, "I’m so scared!"

"What’s going on! What’s happening!" Yu Jianyi, the main teacher of the Sword Cultivation Department, arrived upon hearing the commotion.

He was fed up with Jiang Ningguang, who acted superior simply because she was a distant relative of the Jiang family, strutting around like a rooster.

Seeing her in distress, he couldn’t help but chime in.

"Oh dear, you’re a teacher, yet you’re arguing with a student. She’s still young; let her be."

Lian Yangxia stifled a laugh, secretly giving a thumbs-up to her teacher and the new junior; they were all impressive people, beyond her reach.

"She’s clearly an admissions scandal; how dare she not let people speak!" The new student Ge Xiangming shouted, glaring at Jiang Wangshu with contempt.

"Such shameless people shouldn’t even be allowed to enroll, ruining the reputation of the Eagle Academy."

Jiang Wangshu gasped, clutching her head, "I’m going to go astray! People who go astray should be locked up for treatment; it seems they don’t bear responsibility for murder!"

"Little Black, deal with him."

Little Black languidly lifted his head and shakily walked over.

On the second page, Ge Xiangming laughed heartily at Little Black’s unsteady gait as if he had heard the funniest joke, "This is too easy! Bring on a hundred more, I’m not afraid!"

He contemptuously sized up Little Black, spreading his arms wide, "Come on then—puff!"

A fist struck his cheek, the tremendous force sending him flying, spinning seven hundred and twenty degrees before crashing to the ground.

Jiang Ningguang raised her hand, her spiritual power lashing out toward Jiang Wangshu’s face, "Enough of this!"

Yu Jianyi gathered his spiritual energy in his palm, grinning, "Hey, what do teachers have to do with student matters! Yangxia, take this new student to the infirmary; it’s just a minor injury; she’ll be fine soon!"

Jiang Ningguang scoffed, "Yu Jianyi, since you like this waste so much, I’ll suggest to the principal that this waste be assigned to your Sword Cultivation Department."

She shot a glare at Jiang Wangshu, "Jiang Wangshu, right? I’ll remember you! If you want to report me, hurry up and see who suffers more!"

Yu Jianyi shrugged, "Such a good seedling, I’d be more than happy, but the school isn’t up to your whims."

He turned to Jiang Wangshu, "Jiang Wangshu, since you are brought by Yangxia, I’ll take you to the Academic Affairs."

"Thank you, teacher."

The two left, leaving behind a cacophony of discussions.

At that moment, a major post exploded on the Eagle Academy forum.

"New student waste angers beautiful teacher."

With images and text, everyone was fervently discussing.

First floor: "This new student is quite good looking, even better than the beautiful teacher."

Second floor: "Not only pretty but also articulate; I’m in love."

Third floor: "The previous poster is toxic; disrespecting teachers and walking through back doors, you really have low standards."

Fourth floor: "The previous poster doesn’t understand; the Eagle Academy recruits some good seedlings recommended by the military, there’s only this one back door."

Fifth floor: "Regardless, someone who dares to provoke the Jiang family is in for it."

Sixth floor: "This person has the surname Jiang; could they be related to Teacher Jiang?"

Seventh floor: "Impossible; if they were family, how could they not know each other? This fuss is too loud; the Jiang family is the most united."

Huo Jinyu, upon seeing the images, erupted with excitement, "Little Jiang has arrived!"

Zou Xiuzhen discontentedly pressed down on Huo Jinyu, "Library! Stop making noise!"

Huo Jinyu lowered her voice, leaning closer, "Little Jiang has come to the Eagle Academy; look!"

Zou Xiuzhen’s ears turned red instantly, his gaze dropping, long lashes obscuring his shyness. He cleared his throat, "So what do you want to do?"

On the third page,

"Of course, I’m going to find her." Huo Jinyu pulled away.

Zou Xiuzhen quickly grasped her wrist, "I’ll go with you."

The boisterous Huo Jinyu clasped his hand back, "Then let’s go!"

Zou Xiuzhen nodded awkwardly, following along, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands.

In the Academic Affairs Office, the head, Ji Mingliang, recalled what the principal had told him.

"Jiang Wangshu was recommended by Li Huanyi. To give her a face, I arranged her in the Law Department."

"But now that Li Huanyi is no longer in the picture, that favor is unnecessary. You can handle it as you see fit."

He felt a headache coming on; the principal made it sound easy.

Just putting a relationship-based student in anywhere would lead to teachers coming to complain.

The Law Department was definitely not an option; Jiang Ningguang was not to be trifled with.

Medicine, Music, Array, Symbol...

His gaze wandered until he heard a familiar, cheerful voice.

"Old Ji, I’ve brought a new student; I’m off!"

Suddenly enlightened, he thought, how could he forget there was also a Sword Cultivation Department!

Other departments were popular and already full. Only the Sword Cultivation Department still had plenty of slots; it would be the most fitting arrangement.

"Hey, hey, hey, wait!" Ji Mingliang hurriedly stood up to intercept Yu Jianyi.

Yu Jianyi, puzzled, halted, "What’s wrong?"

Ji Mingliang cheerfully said, "Your Sword Cultivation Department only has one new student this year; all other departments are full, so this recommended student must be placed with you!"

He didn’t give Yu Jianyi a chance to refuse, turning to Jiang Wangshu, "Good child, other departments are really full! The Sword Cultivation Department is a great place; if you practice diligently, you’ll soon be able to sweep across the mountains with a single sword."

He quickly inscribed the Sword Cultivation Department’s seal onto a jade pendant and handed it to Jiang Wangshu.

Yu Jianyi shook his head secretly, thinking Ji Mingliang was quite the con artist.

But he wasn’t worried at all; after all, no one really wanted to come to the Sword Cultivation Department. He could just wait for the student to refuse, and then he could go back to rest.