Chapter 1140: Ancient Academy Records, Lots of Fun 27

Ten youths stood in a row, the old teacher walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, speaking.

"There's only one month left until the competition; starting today, all basic skill training is suspended. You've all received magical tools and treasures, and future training will focus on mastering secret techniques and using those treasures—do not be lazy."

"And there's one more important point, mainly aimed at you five."

The old teacher stopped pacing, stood before the five royal children, his expression somewhat stern, and said, "You must dare to kill."

"The competition is dangerous; although the rule says falling off the platform means loss, being killed and thrown off the platform counts the same."

Thus, upon learning that Xie Yuancheng had finally killed General Song that day, the old teacher was still quite relieved.

"Disciple obeys."

The five royal children all clasped their fists.

Murong Qian said, "Starting tomorrow, whenever you feel you've improved, you may come challenge any one of us three to a duel."

In seven days, I'll take you down the mountain for training; lately, bandits have been troubling the area behind Imperial City Mountain, and only real blades and real spears can provide proper training.

After he finished, Murong Kun added, "In the duels, Jin Chen is excluded."

Jin Chen: "……"

Excluded then excluded; he was happy to take it easy.

In the final month, everyone's training obviously became busy.

Jin Chen also began to make good on his promise, teaching Xie Yuancheng a set of techniques better suited to him alone.

Since it's one-on-one instruction, occasional physical contact is inevitable.

When Xie Yuancheng was immersed in training, he didn't notice at first, but when his mind wandered he suddenly felt his face flush and ears grow hot; yet often, a glance showed Jin Chen's expression unchanged, even somewhat distracted.

As this happened more often, Xie Yuancheng even began to wonder if only he blushed at such contact.

When he sought the reason, Xie Yuancheng involuntarily recalled the scene of the empress mother and father emperor often strolling together in the Imperial Garden.

Upon realizing this, Xie Yuancheng's heart suddenly jumped, and he understood something.

Pat—

He relaxed his grip, and the concealed weapon fell to the ground.

Jin Chen lazily raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement, "How did you get too tired to hold the concealed weapon?"

Xie Yuancheng hurriedly picked up the concealed weapon, chastising himself for zoning out again, "All right, let's continue."

"Take a break." Jin Chen took tea from the nearby stone table and handed it to Xie Yuancheng, not forgetting to kindly find an excuse, "The sun is strong today; it's really hard on us, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The jade pot held tea that had been chilled in advance in the well; Xie Yuancheng took a big gulp, suppressing all random thoughts in his heart, not allowing himself to dwell on them further.

Jin Chen clearly had no such intention at all!

Thinking this, Xie Yuancheng looked up at Jin Chen and inexplicably felt a bit unhappy, "Because I got hurt practicing concealed weapons this morning, you still haven't applied medicine for me."

Jin Chen tilted his head, recalling, "Didn't I apply it at noon?"

"... But it's already afternoon!"

Xie Yuancheng pursed his lips, concluded, "You just don't want to help me apply medicine."

He extended his finger, still bearing blood marks, feeling wronged.

Jin Chen: "……"

"That was my fault; come over."

He chuckled, took Xie Yuancheng's outstretched hand, walked to the stone table and sat down, gently applying the medicine.

Xie Yuancheng propped his face with one hand, watching him; sunlight filtered through the sparse shadows, casting a swaying gold gleam on Jin Chen's plain white robes, and his usually indifferent expression became quite serious at this moment.

He noticed sweat beading on Jin Chen's forehead and, inexplicably, took a handkerchief to wipe it away.

As his fingers touched the cheek, Jin Chen raised his brows in surprise, and the two locked eyes unexpectedly.

Jin Chen gave a light laugh, tilted his head toward his hand, his gaze steady and unchanging, as if waiting.

Xie Yuancheng blinked, wiped his sweat, then jerked his hand back as if shocked, his heart pounding.

"All done?" he urged again, his voice trembling slightly.

"Done."

Jin Chen pinched his fingertip, his voice soft.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected: 10, total now 60!】

At that moment, behind the nearby thicket.

Once again, Lan Wuyang, sent by Xie Beiyao to gather information, bit her finger, moved.

Love! This must be love!

Their Crown Prince Your Highness already knows how to wipe someone's sweat! So pampering!

Jin Chen truly lives up to being the future Crown Princess.

Lan Wuyang again brought back the intelligence, and everyone expressed astonishment anew.

Xie Beiyao already knew the score, and stopped observing further; the relationship between those two was progressing leaps and bounds, soon to be even better than his bond with Xiu Yu!

Thinking this, Xie Beiyao was practically a handful of bitter tears.

Since arriving at the academy, he had continually tried to seize this opportunity to draw closer, but Xiu Yu repeatedly withdrew.

What troubled him most was not knowing why Xiu Yu kept pulling back.

Without finding the cause, even advancing another ten thousand steps would be futile.

"Tsk."

Xie Beiyao sighed deeply, all he wanted was to go seek advice from Jin Chen… hey, what a good idea!

"Hey, where are you going?" Ting Yang asked.

"Looking for Jin Chen!"

Xie Beiyao rushed over excitedly.

Tingyang froze, then silently turned his head to ask the crowd, "He wouldn't go pick a fight with Jin Ge, would he?"

Jiang Yao said, "Well..." then she said firmly, "No."

He wouldn't be so reckless.

Ye Susu picked up the severed limbs from the ground and stuck them back in, saying, "I haven't seen Beiyao clinging to Xiuyu these past two days; did they have a falling out?"

Wan Zhou, who lived opposite Ling Xiuyu, silently raised his hand and said, "Speaking of which, the day before yesterday I heard a commotion outside the room; it seemed Ling Xiuyu had met the personal attendant sent by his family, and after that he started to be unhappy."

Could there be some new development in the court lately?

Lan Wuyang pressed his leg while thinking, "But Xiuyu and Beiyao are both the Crown Prince's attendants; logically there shouldn't be any conflict of interest."

Xie Yuancheng resumed his practice, Jin Chen leaned against a tree to keep him company, when suddenly he heard a sound.

Jin Chen!

Jin Chen glanced sideways, cautiously stepping back half a step.

What are you doing?

The protagonist top won't want to fight him, right!

I have an important question for you. Xie Beiyao looked grave, as if he had encountered some problem.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, "About what?"

Xie Beiyao scratched his head, "... Feelings."

Alright, I get it.

Jin Chen tapped the curious Xie Yuancheng's head that had come over, "Keep practicing."

"Ouch." Xie Yuancheng covered his head and muttered, "If I don't want to listen, I won't."

After the two walked a bit farther, Xie Beiyao made sure no one was around, then spilled his doubts like beans.

Jin Chen struggled to understand this person's twisted mindset, then asked, "You just want to figure out Xiuyu's feelings, right?"

Xie Beiyao nodded, "Yes!"

Jin Chen stroked his chin in thought, a sudden idea struck him, "Come closer, let's whisper."

The two whispered their plot, Xie Beiyao's eyes grew brighter, and he suddenly slapped Jin Chen's shoulder, "You little brat, you're really smart!"

I'll start acting right away!

After taking a critical hit, Jin Chen shook his shoulder, his face full of dark lines.

This person is really full of ox-like determination.