Chapter 87: Let the Games Begin

The next morning, Mu Zhi’an awoke early.

Or rather, he hadn’t slept at all.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to rest, but it was the day before the entrance exams. For Bai Ruoxi’s sake, he had decided to sacrifice some sleep.

He glanced at the sleeping beauty beside him.

The morning light illuminated her face, highlighting her delicate features, the blanket slipping down to reveal her smooth, white shoulders.

He could imagine what lay beneath.

He quietly got out of bed and pulled the blanket up, trying to shield her from his gaze… to avoid seeing what he shouldn’t see.

But she stirred, opening her eyes, her gaze meeting his. “Are you leaving already?” she asked, her voice soft and alluring.

“It’s not early anymore. The sun’s already high in the sky,” he replied, pulling the blanket away, revealing the scenery beneath.

He had intended to let her sleep, but since she was awake… there was no need to be discreet.

He patted her bottom playfully. “Get dressed. We should leave soon. Knowing Senior Sister, she’s probably already waiting for us.”

She swatted his hand away, her voice gentle. “You two go ahead. I need to change and freshen up. It might take a while.”

She sat up, pulling the blanket around her, preventing him from staring.

Even though they had been intimate, being looked at so openly it was still embarrassing.

He nodded, not arguing.

He knew how long a woman’s “freshening up” could take.

He left the room and saw Wei Mengrou in the courtyard, seemingly lost in thought.

She was dressed more simply than usual, her figure concealed by a plain robe, her long hair obscuring her face.

While her attire was modest, he knew what lay beneath.

He had glimpsed her ample bosom on multiple occasions.

And those long legs. He had been tempted, but her strength kept his bolder impulses in check.

“You’re awake early, Mengrou,” he said, approaching her.

Core Formation cultivators didn’t need sleep, but they sometimes chose to rest, to rejuvenate their minds.

She glanced at him, her voice laced with disdain. “You two were… noisy last night.”

“Miss Bai seemed unaware that I could hear her from next door.”

He chuckled, his expression unchanged. “Are you confident about the entrance exams, Mengrou?”

She knew what he was like, so he didn’t bother pretending.

“If I can’t pass, no one can,” she replied calmly.

It was true. In terms of strength, she was the most powerful among the candidates.

If not for her terrible luck, her cultivation would be even higher.

Truly a case of heaven’s jealousy… he thought to himself.

Her talent was so great that heaven had cursed her with misfortune.

Though he had yet to witness any unfortunate events.

“Do you want to head to the meeting point now, Mengrou?” he asked.

The entrance exams were being held outside the city, scheduled for the hour of the snake, around nine in the morning.

She hesitated, then nodded.

She didn’t want to be away from him for too long.

Or rather, she couldn’t be away from him for too long.

…

They left the manor and arrived at the meeting point, where a few other candidates were gathered.

He saw Gongsun Cheng, his “old friend,” and Ye Yu, sitting alone on a boulder, trying to appear mysterious and aloof.

There were also some candidates he didn’t recognize, probably those who hadn’t been selected by Lan Mulian, but had chosen to participate on their own.

They all looked at him as he arrived, some with friendly smiles, others with barely concealed hostility.

“I’m suddenly feeling nervous about the exams, Mengrou. What if it’s dangerous?” he said, his voice trembling slightly.

She scoffed, ignoring his dramatics.

He didn’t even need to participate. He had already secured a spot. He was just trying to tease her.

She knows me too well. He sighed inwardly.

One day… I’ll make her hold up her skirt for me, her face filled with reluctant obedience. He set a new goal for himself.

If it were Ye Qian or Bai Ruoxi, they would have comforted him.

Ye Lingxuan, however, would probably offer some tsundere advice, not outright comfort.

“Be careful. Some of them seem hostile towards you,” Wei Mengrou said suddenly, her voice low.

He snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the other candidates, noticing the coldness in Gongsun Cheng’s eyes.

He shrugged, smiling dismissively. “Gongsun Cheng is just a small fry.”

“There are a few others as well. Perhaps Gongsun Cheng has recruited them,” she said.

She was sensitive to others’ emotions, their intentions.

She knew he often looked at her inappropriately… but she chose not to comment.

He frowned. “A group of small fry, they’re still just small fry.”

She stared at him, speechless.

While his words were insensitive, she couldn’t deny that she felt the same way.

He ignored Gongsun Cheng’s gaze, looking at the scenery, waiting for the others.

He knew why Gongsun Cheng hated him.

But he should be grateful.

He was clearly meant to be an early antagonist, destined to be defeated by the protagonist.

But Mu Zhi’an had become the main target, attracting all of Ye Yu’s hatred, sparing Gongsun Cheng from humiliation.

After a while, Bai Ruoxi arrived.

They all stared at her, their gazes filled with admiration and desire.

Even Ye Yu was captivated by her beauty.

But he quickly looked away, his expression carefully controlled.

After two days of cultivation, he had calmed down considerably.

He wasn’t in a hurry anymore.

At the Two Polarities Sect, during the entrance exams, he would defeat Mu Zhi’an, finally erasing this dark chapter from his life. And he would become an inner disciple, proving to Bai Ruoxi how foolish she had been to reject him.

Mu Zhi’an didn’t know, nor did he care, about Ye Yu’s thoughts.

After a while, he sensed a powerful aura approaching rapidly.

He looked up to see Lan Mulian descending from the sky, her white dress billowing around her.

Damn it, she has a holy light. I can’t see anything. He couldn’t get a glimpse of her legs, her figure concealed by some protective spell.

“Senior Sister!” he called out, bowing.

She nodded, surveying the candidates. “It seems everyone’s here.”

Her gaze lingered on Bai Ruoxi and Wei Mengrou for a moment.

“Those at Core Formation, follow me to the sect. The rest of you… I’ll escort you to the foot of the mountain, where the entrance exams will be held.”

They all looked at the two women, envy in their eyes.

Gongsun Cheng smiled, glancing at Mu Zhi’an.

He had contacted the other candidates two days ago, hadn’t he? To exact his revenge.

In Tianxuan City, with the Mu family backing him, they wouldn’t dare touch him.

But at the Two Polarities Sect, with Core Formation cultivators exempt from the exams… without Wei Mengrou and Bai Ruoxi, it was a different story.

He saw the flicker of fear in Mu Zhi’an’s eyes and exchanged a knowing glance with the other candidates, their smiles widening.

Ye Yu also looked at Mu Zhi’an, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

The young master’s brow was furrowed, his expression a mask of anger and fear. His acting skills were impressive.

Reputation mattered. Even if the Mu family’s influence didn’t reach the Two Polarities Sect, Mu Zhi’an was still… Mu Zhi’an.

Many disliked him.

But few dared to offend him openly.

Gongsun Cheng had surely offered something tempting to persuade the others to join his scheme.

And Ye Yu… he was obsessed with revenge, consumed by his hatred.

The moment the news about Core Formation cultivators being exempt from the exams had spread, the undercurrents of this entrance exam had shifted.

Those who disliked Mu Zhi’an, but had been afraid to act, they might have bold ideas.

They didn’t realize that Mu Zhi’an didn’t need to participate.

He was only attending out of curiosity.

He noticed their gazes, their intentions, and chuckled inwardly.

Let the games begin…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay