Turning the Tables

Jiang Ping'an did not go to the Hall of Law Enforcement to demand an explanation, because it would be easy for them to uncover his personal grudge with Zhao Jinglian. If he personally demanded an explanation, it would instead be seen as deliberately inciting the students to seek private vengeance.

"Jiang Ping'an, rest assured. I'll send someone to warn Zhao Jinglian," Princess Bailing told Jiang Ping'an. "I won't let her touch a single hair on your head."

Jiang Ping'an cupped his hands and smiled. "Many thanks, Princess."

He did not particularly believe Princess Bailing's warning would be effective, but he appreciated her goodwill.

After leaving the martial arts square, Squad 135 reviewed their match just now.

"Jiang Ping'an, I never expected your movement technique to be so formidable," Princess Bailing could not help praising again.

Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng could only nurse their jealousy in silence, while Hong Feng was filled with admiration.

Jiang Ping'an said modestly, "High-grade Movement Techniques are all more or less the same. Young Master Jiang and Young Master Lu have both cultivated High-grade Movement Techniques as well."

"Yes, we've cultivated High-grade Movement Techniques too," Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng immediately said.

"It isn't too difficult to get started with a High-grade Martial Skill. But to truly cultivate one to mastery, or even to the point where it becomes second nature, is by no means easy," Princess Bailing insisted.

Zhang Jingtian and Lu Zhaisheng could only give awkward smiles.

They understood in their hearts that, in terms of movement techniques alone, they truly could not compare to Jiang Ping'an.

Princess Bailing said somewhat smugly, "The tactics I arranged suit us very well. We'll fight like this from now on."

After parting with his teammates, Jiang Ping'an returned to his Residence and discovered visitors waiting there—the Law Enforcement Team.

"Jiang Ping'an, come with us to the Hall of Law Enforcement," the Law Enforcement Team said directly, their tone and bearing leaving no room for refusal.

Jiang Ping'an knew what this was about and readily cooperated. "All right."

Thus, he left the Residence with the Law Enforcement Team and went to the Hall of Law Enforcement.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Law Enforcement, Supervisor Cao Yunsheng personally questioned Jiang Ping'an about the full sequence of events.

Jiang Ping'an answered mostly truthfully, denying that he had been the one shouting and inciting the students to go to the Hall of Law Enforcement together to demand an explanation.

At the end, Cao Yunsheng said with a faint warning in his voice, "Although you were not at fault in this matter, you are still suspected of incitement. Do not do this again in the future."

He already knew that Jiang Ping'an and Zhao Jinglian were in fact half-siblings sharing the same father.

"Yes," Jiang Ping'an replied. "But what about my safety?"

Cao Yunsheng said, "You may rest assured. Since you have entered Taiwu Academy, Taiwu Academy will naturally be responsible for your safety. Besides, Taiwu Academy's students are all His Majesty's disciples. Whoever dares touch you must face His Majesty's wrath."

"And how will Zhao Jinglian be punished?" Jiang Ping'an asked again.

Cao Yunsheng said, "The matter has not yet been fully investigated. Once it has been thoroughly investigated, the Hall of Law Enforcement will specifically notify you of the outcome."

"Thank you," Jiang Ping'an said. He did not have high expectations, since Zhao Jinglian had not actually made a move.

However, he had already achieved his goal: making Zhao Jinglian infamous.

At Zhao Jinglian's Residence, Zhao Zhenming, who had won the first round of matches, hurried over after learning that his sister had become the target of universal condemnation.

The moment they met, before Zhao Zhenming could say anything, Zhao Jinglian had already thrown herself tearfully into his arms, full of grievance.

"Brother, that piece of trash set me up. He ruined my reputation. Boohoo... Brother, you have to seek justice for me. I want him dead immediately..."

Listening to his sister's aggrieved sobs, Zhao Zhenming felt miserable, his heart brimming with rage.

From childhood to adulthood, neither he nor his sister had ever suffered the slightest grievance, much less been bullied in the slightest.

He cast the words he had prepared to lecture his sister straight beyond the clouds, caring only to comfort her tenderly.

After comforting her for a full Incense Stick's time, Zhao Zhenming finally got Zhao Jinglian to stop crying.

After learning the full details of what had happened, just as Zhao Zhenming was about to think deeply, Zhao Jinglian could no longer hold back. "Brother, that piece of trash must die. The day before yesterday, he screwed you over and damaged your reputation. Today, he screwed me over too, making me the target of universal condemnation and getting me punished by the Hall of Law Enforcement."

"He is concubine-born. He has a Mortal Body. He is jealous that we are legitimate-born, jealous that we receive Dad's love, jealous that we receive the Zhennan Marquis Estate's cultivation, jealous that our bloodline is powerful... In short, he is jealous of everything we have. He will definitely exhaust every scheme and stratagem to harm us."

"Brother, we must kill him, the sooner the better. Otherwise..."

She had never considered that they had been the ones to provoke and suppress Jiang Ping'an, while Jiang Ping'an had merely struck back. To this day, Jiang Ping'an had never proactively dealt with the two siblings.

Zhao Zhenming sighed and interrupted Zhao Jinglian. "Say no more. I have decided to send him on his final passage."

Though he looked down on and disliked Jiang Ping'an, he had never truly harbored the intent to kill, because he believed it was wrong for blood relatives to slaughter one another.

More importantly, killing Jiang Ping'an would leave a stain on his morality and give people something to criticize in the future.

Since childhood, he had set high standards for himself, pursued perfection, and longed to become a Saint someday.

However, he felt that Jiang Ping'an was far too hard to shake off, like an evil ghost constantly clinging to the two siblings with all manner of schemes and stratagems. He had no choice but to harden his heart and kill.

I am being forced into this, he thought. Anyone who knows the truth will surely understand me.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Zhao Jinglian cried out excitedly at once.

Zhao Zhenming sternly warned his sister, "This is Yujing, far from our foundation. You cannot keep acting willfully. During this period, you are forbidden from clashing with Zhao Ping'an. If you see him, take a detour!"

"I understand," Zhao Jinglian replied. "Then when will you send him on his final passage?"

"This cannot be rushed. Probably within a month," Zhao Zhenming said after some thought.

Zhao Jinglian clapped her hands. "Then let him live for one more month!"

After Zhao Zhenming returned to his own Residence, he wrote a letter and handed it to the last servant at his side. "Old Hai, I'll have to trouble you to personally deliver this letter back to the Zhennan Marquis Estate for my Mother. Ride the Iron Feathered Flying Eagle there."

The Iron Feathered Flying Eagle was a demonic bird that the Human Race could tame for transportation. It could fly five thousand li in a day.

As for Old Hai, whom he had mentioned, he was an old servant of the Zhennan Marquis Estate with Dragon Transformation Realm cultivation, and Zhao Zhenming's protector.

"Young Master, please rest assured," Old Hai said respectfully as he accepted the letter, then immediately departed.

After Zhao Zhenming left, Zhao Jinglian still had not calmed down.

Thinking of how a piece of trash she had despised and looked down upon since childhood had made her the target of universal condemnation, the more she thought about it, the more furious and stifled she became.

"Aunt Zhang, just how strong is that piece of trash?" she suddenly asked Aunt Zhang, her bodyguard servant.

Though she did not wish to admit it, Jiang Ping'an had managed to withstand the fierce assault of three Primordial Sea Realm cultivators. That showed he was not weak.

She then recalled how, aboard the flying vessel, Jiang Ping'an had knocked down more than a dozen disciples of the Zhennan Marquis Estate by himself. Though that had taken place in the corridor of the ship's cabin, where Martial Skills and spells could not be used, making it a street brawl fought purely with brute force.

He hid his strength all these years in the Zhennan Marquis Estate. He must be harboring sinister intentions; his heart deserves to be condemned! she thought resentfully.

Aunt Zhang considered for a moment. "What he used was a High-grade Movement Technique. It somewhat resembled Parting Flowers, Sweeping Willows. He has already fully mastered that High-grade Movement Technique."

"Apart from his movement technique, what about his true strength?" Zhao Jinglian asked impatiently.

Of course she knew Jiang Ping'an's movement technique was formidable. She was not blind.

Aunt Zhang thought carefully for a moment, then said, "His True Essence aura is not apparent, which shows it is not abundant. We can basically conclude that his Essence Sea is not large—perhaps even rather small. Maintaining that High-grade Movement Technique may already be his limit."

Jiang Ping'an had cultivated "Mortal Transformation," so there was no way she could see through his true circumstances.

"That makes sense!" Having heard what she wanted to hear, Zhao Jinglian snorted coldly. "His aptitude is a Mortal Body. How strong could he possibly be?"

The next moment, she ordered her personal Maidservant, "Tan Yun, immediately spread the news: say that Zhao Ping'an has a Mortal Body, a tiny Essence Sea, and limited True Essence. Tell everyone not to be bluffed by that movement technique of his."

Tan Yun hesitated. "But Young Master, he..."

"It's fine!" Zhao Jinglian waved her hand. "I'm only spreading the news. It isn't as though I'm directly clashing with that piece of trash."

"Go quickly!" she urged impatiently.

If she did not immediately retaliate against Jiang Ping'an somehow, she feared she would be driven mad from suppressing it.

Tan Yun could only answer, "Yes, young lady."

Then she immediately turned and left.

In only half a day, the "inside information" that Jiang Ping'an possessed a Mortal Body had become known to everyone.

This was not only because of the attention Princess Bailing brought, but also because Squad 135 was a seeded squad. The other students also wanted to know Squad 135's true circumstances.

For a time, many students discussed the news that Jiang Ping'an had a Mortal Body.

"So Jiang Ping'an has a Mortal Body and a tiny Essence Sea. That gave me quite a scare—I thought he was a dark horse. Turns out he only looks impressive."

"That can't be possible, can it? Someone with a Mortal Body cannot possibly cultivate to the Primordial Sea Realm at sixteen. It must be a rumor!"

"It's not a rumor. It's true. The news came from disciples of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, and many Zhennan Marquis Estate disciples have confirmed it. Jiang Ping'an is from White Emperor City."

"Hehe, I also heard that Jiang Ping'an's real surname is Zhao, and that he is from the Zhennan Marquis Estate too. Supposedly, because he has a Mortal Body, the Zhennan Marquis Estate found it too embarrassing and would not allow him to bear the Zhao surname!"

"Since he has a Mortal Body, there is nothing to fear. His High-grade Movement Technique may be exquisite, but we can break skill with force and defeat him with ease! Or we can treat him like a fly and ignore him first, defeat all his teammates, and he will lose."

That evening, the Hall of Law Enforcement's punishment decision for Zhao Jinglian was issued.

Jiang Ping'an read the notice. It was basically fair: Zhao Jinglian was given a severe warning and a demerit, stripped of her resource allotment for three months, publicly censured throughout the academy, and reported to her parents.

"Having it announced throughout Taiwu Academy will be enough to leave Zhao Jinglian infamous for a long time," Jiang Ping'an said with an involuntary smile.

Just as Jiang Ping'an had expected, once the punishment notice for Zhao Jinglian came out, her reputation was thoroughly ruined throughout Taiwu Academy. Everyone knew that Zhao Jinglian could not accept defeat and privately threatened others after losing a match, among other things.

The students within Taiwu Academy were elite geniuses from across the Great Qian Kingdom. This bad reputation would not be confined to Taiwu Academy; it would spread far and wide in the future.

After a full day of fiercely contested matches, the first round ended. The second round would begin the next morning and still required drawing lots.

Before the draw, Squad 135 gathered, and Zhang Jingtian directly asked Jiang Ping'an, "Jiang Ping'an, you have a Mortal Body?"

"That's right. I have a Mortal Body," Jiang Ping'an nodded calmly in admission.

Lu Zhaitian, beside them, smiled. "Then that's a pity."

There was concealed regret in the way Hong Feng looked at Jiang Ping'an.

A Mortal Body was practically equivalent to a crippled body. Its achievements were destined to be limited—this was common knowledge.

Princess Bailing looked at Lu Zhaisheng and asked disapprovingly, "What are you smiling about?"

"I wasn't smiling," Lu Zhaisheng hastily denied, guilty-heartedly wiping the smile off his face.

Princess Bailing gave Jiang Ping'an a sympathetic glance, but said nothing.

In her understanding, a Mortal Body was indeed destined for mediocrity. She did not want to go against her conscience and say pleasant words to comfort Jiang Ping'an.

Jiang Ping'an did not care about his teammates' attitudes. Once he won first place in the grand competition, those who criticized and mocked him would naturally shut up, their scorn turning into astonishment and shock.

Before long, the drawing of lots was complete. Princess Bailing drew the second match at Arena Ten.

Below Arena Ten, after watching the first match, Jiang Ping'an, Princess Bailing, and the others stepped onto the arena, ready to begin their match.