Chapter 133: There Can't Be Two Accidents

Fortunately, the list of candidates participating in the examination was not directly published, and everyone only knew the names of some "seed players," thinking this was someone recommended by some obscure, remote little county.

That was also a solid upset.

People were confused and inquired everywhere, and no one knew where Lu Nuonuo popped out from.

"Then what about the money I bet?" Someone shouted: "Damn, this can't count as the bookmaker taking it all, right?"

"Names not on the betting list don't count! Refund, refund!"

"Wait a minute." The bookmaker was sweating profusely: "This is a tie, there is another first place, Lu Xingzhou! Lu Nuonuo doesn't count, count it according to Lu Xingzhou!"

"How can it be a tie? The champion and runner-up must be distinguished, right?"

"The official doesn't distinguish individual champions, only the general list; it doesn't matter to the official if individual items are tied! I said this is a privately leaked list; on the surface, both of these people surnamed Lu refined six grade-four pills, and the quality was top-grade, so they are tied for first place!"

"Then why did you say Lu Nuonuo just now?"

"Because Lu Nuonuo is young! The person who passed the list thought she was the first! But who does the person who passed the list think they are? Does the official recognize it?"

People looked at each other; indeed, the individual champion was just something the folk shouted themselves, the official didn't have a separate alchemy list, only looking at the total score.

If Lu Nuonuo was a name on the betting list, everyone might argue about who was the first, and rank by age or cultivation time, but Lu Nuonuo wasn't on the betting list at all, so of course, only those who bet on Lu Xingzhou won the bet.

Originally, if Lu Xingzhou was directly said to be the first, it would also be a dark horse, and it would also trigger a lot of discussion. As a result, being hit by the inexplicable Lu Nuonuo, it actually seemed quite normal for Lu Xingzhou to take the first place, and for a while, it was actually much quieter.

Sheng Yuanyao finally squeezed in with a glowing face: "I bet on Lu Xingzhou! Give me the money!"

The bookmaker looked at her sympathetically: "Miss Sheng, you bet on the general list."

Sheng Yuanyao was furious: "Are you playing me?"

"Don't embarrass yourself." Pei Chuyun pulled her away with a smile, her green onion-like fingers leisurely dropping a betting contract on the table: "Individual alchemy project, I bet 100 taels on Lu Xingzhou. What were the odds for Lu Xingzhou's individual project? Come, come, give me the money."

Sheng Yuanyao: "..."

Looking left and right, Pei Chuyun was the only one who won the bet, and the odds seemed a bit terrifying.

I'm so stupid, how could I forget that I could also bet on individual items...

The discussion nearby drifted into her ears: "Looking at it this way, the general list this year will inevitably be an upset."

"Yeah, these two surnamed Lu are so strong in the individual alchemy project; as long as the literary exam and medical treatment are standard, they will likely have a share in the top few. But not many people bet on Lu Xingzhou in the top five, let alone Lu Nuonuo..."

"It seems only Miss Sheng and Miss Pei bet on Lu Xingzhou as the champion... Miss Sheng bet a lot."

"It wouldn't really be Lu Xingzhou as the champion, would it? If so, the ten-year salary of the Sheng family's Demon Suppression Division wouldn't be able to compare to this one bet, directly earning a huge manor."

Sheng Yuanyao's heart moved, and she secretly ordered her subordinates: "Go help me ask if Qingyao Garden is for sale, and how much it costs."

…………

"Regardless of whether the Pill Academy's list is released or not, the Newcomer List really should have a new version." In the Demon Suppression Division, Sheng Qingfeng was discussing with the old head: "Although the customary half-year update hasn't arrived yet, the changes are too great now, and dragging it on will always be discussed, and in the long run, it will lose the credibility of the Great Gan Heroes List."

The old head didn't manage much anymore, and nodded slightly upon hearing this: "Qingfeng... actually, you don't need to discuss this with me; it can be your first reform measure after taking office. For example, change the customary half-year update to a three-month update."

Sheng Qingfeng thought the same in his stomach, but on the surface, he still had to give the old head face. Who the old head recommended to the Emperor to succeed him after retirement was also a key opinion.

Hearing this, he hurriedly said: "Head, don't say that; the Demon Suppression Division still needs your experience to lead. Besides, who will succeed is still an unknown; the Emperor hasn't decided yet."

"The Emperor has already told me... He has been focusing on the Pill Academy these past few days; alchemy is the top priority in his heart now... After this matter is over, there should be news."

Sheng Qingfeng was overjoyed: "Then thank you, Head, for your cultivation."

The old head smiled: "When I was your age, I was also focused on climbing higher, turning the work of iron-blooded majesty into an official's oil... Now that my time is running out, looking back on the past is like a dream. Qingfeng, only when you reach a certain point will you know that nothing is as important as your own cultivation... No wonder so many sect leaders just laugh at the green mountains and are unwilling to get involved in this world."

Sheng Qingfeng didn't answer.

The old head sighed: "I know you are different from others... Your Sheng family has served in the Demon Suppression Division for generations, and your fathers and ancestors all sacrificed in their posts. You appear to be in harmony with the world, doing things more smoothly than anyone else; that's just you protecting yourself, but in reality, you have bones inside and want to do something... Yuanyao is like you."

Sheng Qingfeng finally said: "I don't deserve it. It's just that if everyone were like those so-called sect leaders, saying 'clear wind and bright moon, bamboo staff and straw sandals,' how carefree, but who would do the work? Just like the Dongjiang demon case, it was Yuanyao who investigated it; the Menggui City demon cultivator case, it was the county governor who made the final decision. Where are the grade-one sects?"

"So only you can succeed; others are not worthy." The old head stood up and patted his shoulder: "If nothing goes wrong, the appointment letter will come in these two days. As for the Newcomer List, you handle it; I'm an old man who can't keep up with the changes, so I won't get involved in young people's affairs."

Sheng Qingfeng stood up to see him off: "Head, walk slowly."

The old head walked two steps, suddenly remembered something, and laughed: "That Lu Xingzhou, he's very popular... Is he in that kind of relationship with Yuanyao?"

Sheng Qingfeng didn't expect the old leader to bring this up, and laughed bitterly: "How can I bother the Head with the children's affairs..."

"This is not just the children's affairs... This person is stirring up the wind and clouds; the Newcomer List simply cannot contain this dragon." The old head lowered his voice: "Even Princess Chaohuang may not be able to row this dragon boat alone."

Damn, what does that mean? Sheng Qingfeng had a stomach full of words stuck in his throat, blankly watching the old head leave.

"Deputy Head, Deputy Head, the Pill Academy has released the list!" A subordinate ran over: "Every family will recruit people according to the list; should our Demon Suppression Division take action?"

Sheng Qingfeng was stunned: "It's released so quickly this year? Didn't it just finish the exam?"

"The Emperor is watching personally; I heard the examiners are pulling all-nighters to grade the papers."

"Damn, go take a look!" Sheng Qingfeng went out quickly.

Alchemists, this thing, "catching a son-in-law under the list" is not quite the case. Alchemists are all Daoist practitioners, and most Daoist practitioners are people of pure cultivation, basically hiding there all day and night without moving, so whether they are monks or not, they are not very suitable to be sons-in-law, but it is indeed routine for various forces to recruit them in advance.

Of course, there will be some who catch sons-in-law, often nouveau riche with no accumulation.

The Demon Suppression Division naturally also needs to recruit alchemy and medical talents, booking them before they enter the Pill Academy for advanced studies, so they are people of the Demon Suppression Division when they come out. It would be fine if they were snatched by other departments first, but being recruited by aristocratic families like the Huo and Pei families would be a waste of national talent.

Sheng Qingfeng rushed to the gate of the Pill Academy, which was already a sea of people, with a group of people standing on tiptoe waiting for the people inside to come out and post the list.

Even if there were many people, Sheng Qingfeng saw his daughter's ponytail shaking in front at a glance. Old Sheng was furious, reached out and grabbed the ponytail.

"Who is pulling your aunt, are you looking for death!" Sheng Yuanyao pulled out her knife halfway with a "clang" and turned around angrily.

The next moment, her angry face became flattering: "Deputy Head Sheng~ Why are you here..."

"With so many people, what are you squeezing here for? Is this what a young lady should do? Do you still want your image?" Sheng Qingfeng pointed angrily at the restaurant on the side: "Look at the Pei girl, watching from the building, how elegant! Why are you like a monkey?"

Sheng Yuanyao glared bitterly at Pei Chuyun who was watching the show from the building. Just now, this Pei girl was also squeezing here, and was just taken away by Pei Yu... How did she become someone else's child in a blink of an eye?

Sheng Yuanyao was righteous: "As a supervisor of the Demon Suppression Division, I am here for official business! How can I imitate that Pei family rice bug, who only knows how to eat!"

"Who assigned you this task? Are you publicly spreading fake official business with me?" Sheng Qingfeng pulled his daughter's hair and dragged her out: "Go play with that Pei girl, there's nothing for you here!"

Sheng Yuanyao went upstairs looking disheveled, and plopped down right next to Pei Chuyun.

The candidates waiting for the list were not in this building, basically all squeezing below to watch the list, but Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice were not here, and didn't know where they ran off to. Neither Sheng Yuanyao nor Pei Chuyun saw them. The upstairs was mainly for the aristocratic young masters to watch the show, among whom was Huo Heng, the third of the Huo family.

Pei Yu was chatting with Huo Heng with a fake smile: "Isn't the Huo family quite good at refining pills? I heard that a fairy pill cured the Emperor back then. Why, are you also coming out to recruit people now? Can't you cultivate them yourself?"

Huo Heng said lightly: "Brother Pei is joking. Even if the Huo family cultivates alchemists, they still need to enter the Pill Academy for advanced studies."

"Oh?" Pei Yu laughed: "Brother Huo means, among the heroes participating in the examination this time, there are those cultivated by the Huo family?"

"I wouldn't dare to claim cultivation, but they are indeed a bit stronger than the average young alchemist."

Pei Yu said: "Looking at Brother Huo's tone... those who don't know would think the alchemy champion this year has already been booked by the Huo family."

Huo Heng said lightly: "It's about the same; if not the champion, the runner-up should be there."

Hearing him say this, everyone knew that Daoist Xuanqing was basically secretly cultivated by the Huo family. He was indeed the biggest favorite to win the championship, and even if there was an accident and he lost the championship, keeping the runner-up shouldn't be a problem.

There can't be two accidents.

These aristocratic young masters didn't go to the casino, and the list was released too quickly this year, so they probably hadn't heard the private news from the casino... This Huo Heng hadn't heard of the deeds of the two surnamed Lu, and was still very confident...

Pei Chuyun's eyes rolled, and she covered her mouth with a fan and laughed: "Young Master Huo, don't speak too full. Maybe someone originally belonged to the Huo family, but now they don't?"

Huo Heng glanced at her with some contempt: "A village girl found outside, just doesn't know what she's talking about. Do you really think everyone is willing to bear the name of betraying their master?"

Pei Chuyun grabbed the sugar on the table and watched the snow-white sugar slip from her fingertips: "Then does Young Master Huo dare to make a bet with this village girl? Let's bet that the Huo family originally could have had the champion and runner-up, but it was like sand between fingers, only able to watch helplessly as it didn't belong to them."

Hearing this, everyone thought the Pei family was going to snatch people from the Huo family, and Huo Heng thought so too, so he sneered: "What will you do if you lose?"

Pei Chuyun pointed to a big pig head on another table not far away: "Whoever loses, just shout three times at that pig head: I love you."

"Vulgar and uncultured." Huo Heng snorted coldly, but didn't object, meaning he agreed.

"It's here, it's here!" A noise suddenly came from the crowd below. Meng Li held a yellow list and squeezed through the crowd under the protection of a group of guards, hanging the list on the wall.

Everyone looked at the highest position for the first time.

Champion: Lu Xingzhou.

Runner-up: Lu Nuonuo.

The whole scene was silent, and the restaurant upstairs was even more silent, as if a needle could be heard dropping.

For a moment, no one bothered to worry about why Lu Xingzhou became the champion as an upset, or who Lu Nuonuo was... Everyone's eyes fell on Huo Heng's face, containing overwhelming malicious mockery.

The Pei family didn't need to snatch people from the Huo family... The candidates for champion and runner-up themselves indicated that the Huo family originally possessed them, but now it was like sand between fingers, watching helplessly as it slipped through the fingers and didn't belong to them.

Pei Yu imitated Huo Heng's words just now, sarcastically: "It's about the same; if not the champion, the runner-up should be there~ Hahahaha~"

Huo Heng's face was livid.

Pei Chuyun smiled slightly and pointed her slender finger at the pig head: "Young Master Huo, please?"

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PS: Last day for double monthly tickets, asking for monthly tickets~