Chapter 565: Pre-Battle Preparations (2)

One could see that quite a few guarantors were elders of their respective families.

Zhao Jiao and Zhao Huai were squeezed in among them, looking a bit out of place.

No wonder Zhao Shizhang and Zhao Qiye had said what they did earlier.

It seemed as though bringing Zhao Huai and Zhao Jiao made it look like Zhao Chi had been slighted.

After all, this really did make it appear that Zhao Chi wasn't valued.

But Zhao Chi didn't care.

Especially now that he had just learned that situation, he cared even less.

"Zhao Chi, Yuan Zhao and the others are here."

Lu Hong whispered, pointing to the side.

A small group of people could be seen pouring in from the side.

It was Yuan Zhao and his group of followers.

Yuan Zhao also spotted Zhao Chi: "Oh, Zhao Chi, you're here too."

Saying so, he walked over.

At the same time, he brought quite a few people along.

Yuan Zhao was good-looking, and generous with his spending.

His family had countless ties to the nobility, but the family itself was an independent clan.

Their strength was beyond doubt.

A person like that was naturally popular.

Whether men or women, he could always gather a large following around him.

And he probably enjoyed that feeling of being surrounded by admirers.

His face was full of contentment.

Zhao Chi nodded: "Long time no see, Yuan Zhao. Are you doing well?"

Yuan Zhao laughed heartily: "That line should be mine to ask you. Of course I'm doing great on my end. Although you won the last opening-term competition, that was basically a speed race. And the magical beasts the instructors set up involved a lot of luck. This time we're fighting each other directly, so you'd better watch yourself."

Zhao Chi nodded: "You're sure to get a good result."

Before Yuan Zhao could speak, two of his followers beside him chimed in fawningly.

"Isn't that fucking obvious? If Yuan Zhao can't get a good result, who can?"

"Who are you? Do you even have the right to ask Yuan Zhao something like that? Brother Yuan is obviously always doing great."

Zhao Chi frowned, about to curse.

Yuan Zhao cursed first: "What business is it of yours? Shut your damn mouths!"

Then he said to Zhao Chi: "Don't bother with them."

Seeing Yuan Zhao say that, Zhao Chi simply nodded.

"Alright, I'm going to go see some friends on the side. Wishing you a smooth competition the day after tomorrow."

Yuan Zhao smiled and took his leave.

Zhao Chi actually didn't have much to say to him either.

He bade him a similarly polite farewell.

A few of Yuan Zhao's followers glared back at Zhao Chi.

Zhao Chi cursed: "The hell are you staring at? Come here, have a fight?"

Those four said nothing and hurried after Yuan Zhao.

"Stupid bastards!"

Zhao Chi's voice was loud, and quite a few people nearby looked over.

Those followers must have heard, but not a single peep out of them—they all hurried away.

"What's wrong, Zhao Chi? This doesn't seem like you."

The voice was gentle.

Zhao Chi was very familiar with that voice.

He turned his head and saw a smiling female student standing beside him.

"Lu Yi? You're here too? Are you competing this time as well?"

"Yes, I live in North Stream Village, so of course I have to compete. What just happened?"

"Nothing, just cursing a few pieces of trash. How are you doing now? Have things been going well these past few weeks?"

Lu Yi sighed: "Pretty okay, I guess. Mainly, a few days ago they allocated some magical beast quotas to us, and we lost some soldiers, but overall it wasn't a big deal."

North Stream Village was to the northwest of Brook Village.

At the time, the magical beast quotas hadn't only affected Brook Village; they involved several surrounding villages.

But after the Fragrant Food Street was wiped out, the quotas for each village were gradually reduced, until they were canceled altogether.

Zhao Chi said: "As long as the losses aren't big, that's good. Fortunately, this competition won't involve any losses."

Lu Yi said softly: "How about things on your end? Has development been going smoothly? After you got first place, has your family started valuing you more?"

Although Lu Yi's actual combat ability wasn't great, she was a good person.

She had given Zhao Chi quite a bit of help before, and Zhao Chi was very grateful to her.

"Mm, yes, the family has started to value me."

"That's wonderful."

Lu Yi was genuinely happy for him.

As the two talked, there was always a figure drifting around nearby.

Zhao Chi looked carefully for a while and spotted Cao Feng in the crowd.

What's with this Cao Feng, sneaking around like that?

"Cao Feng! What are you hiding from? Come over and chat!"

Lu Yi turned her head in surprise to look behind her.

Cao Feng looked a little awkward.

But he still swaggered over, pretending not to care.

"Oh, it's Zhao Chi. Why the hell are you yelling so loud? I can hear you just fine. Lu Yi, getting prettier again after just a few days."

Shi Juan was following behind Cao Feng.

At this moment Shi Juan also came up and greeted them.

"Hi~"

Lu Yi didn't answer Cao Feng, but asked Shi Juan: "Shi Juan, why are you here too? Your home is up north, right? You don't belong to our five villages — can you take part in the competition too?"

Shi Juan shook her head and smiled: "No, I came along with Brother Cao."

Zhao Chi nodded: "Cao Feng, I can see it now — Shi Juan really is devoted to you, never leaving your side. Stop staring at Lu Yi and the others all the time; take a look at the one right beside you. Shi Juan is the one who suits you best."

Cao Feng was a little angry: "Damn it, who needs your bullshit?"

If Zhao Chi had said anything else, Shi Juan would definitely have sided with Cao Feng without hesitation.

But this time, she glanced at Zhao Chi with a trace of gratitude.

Then she fixed her gaze on Cao Feng.

Cao Feng showed no reaction at all; in his eyes there was only Lu Yi.