Chapter 132: Little Princess Zhao Qianqian

Qin Li smiled slightly and nodded. “Yes, it is hard to refuse His Majesty’s kindness. I truly have no choice. I am actually very busy, and being able to spare one day each week is already quite an effort.”

Although Bu Tong sensed some sharpness in the young man’s words, he was not angry. A young man achieving so much—if he had no temper at all, others would become suspicious.

The classes in the Advanced Academy were divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D, ranked from highest to lowest. However, even those in the lowest group, Class D, did not lack quality students. How could young talents known as geniuses be anything but capable?

Seeing that Qin Li truly had no intention of meddling in the Academy’s power structure, Bu Tong finally relaxed. He said calmly, “Well, I think we can settle it like this. Since you were awarded the title of Marquis by His Majesty, your affinity with the Five Elements must be remarkable. A sixteen-year-old Earth Rank high-level Martial Artist truly counts as a genius. So, I will create a special subject just for you! Let’s call it… the Five Elements subject. You will come to the Academy once a week, and we will use the Academy’s largest auditorium as your classroom. Any student who is interested in this subject can attend your class, regardless of whether they are in the high, middle, or low levels. The class will be held on the first day of every week. What do you think of this arrangement?”

Qin Li sneered inwardly. He had long noticed that Bu Tong did not like him, acting cold and indifferent. Only after hearing that Qin Li would not become a full-time lecturer at the Advanced Academy did Bu Tong’s attitude change slightly. Still, he had dug quite a large pit for Qin Li. Giving him the largest auditorium? Was he trying to make a fool out of him? If not a single student showed up… wouldn’t he become the biggest laughingstock in the whole Academy, even the entire Azure Dragon City?

But if Bu Tong wanted to see him humiliated… he really should step outside into the corridor and look at that crowd of enthusiastic students below! Qin Li felt a bit sorry for Bu Tong. Though he wasn’t sure why Vice Principal Bu Tong seemed to dislike him, Qin Li believed he had no reason to like Bu Tong either—and his reasons were absolutely justified!

So Qin Li put on a smile and said, “Vice Principal Bu, thank you very much. I won’t disturb you any further. You must be busy!”

“Marquis Qin, take care!” Bu Tong also smiled as he saw Qin Li out, calling him “Marquis Qin” meaningfully. Watching Qin Li’s back disappear, Bu Tong curled his lips and spat on the ground. What a load of rubbish, this so-called young genius! What’s so great about him? In front of me, you’re still too young! Did you think I was doing you a favor? Did you think I didn’t know about the fervent worship those outside geniuses have for you? But… Qin Li, oh Qin Li, you surely don’t know that the first day of every week is the busiest day at the Academy! Although the Advanced Academy mainly emphasizes self-study, the first day of each week is when teachers of various subjects explain theoretical knowledge! If you come at that time, let’s see how many would dare risk offending those teachers who hold grading power just to attend your class!

A cold flicker of contempt flashed in Bu Tong’s eyes. He turned and entered his office, thinking to himself: I should also give those lecturers a heads-up about this matter.

Qin Li, from this very first day, I will push you into the spotlight! Let you get no support here, only isolation. Let’s see how long you can last!

…

As soon as Qin Li went downstairs and stepped outside, the students outside erupted.

“Wow, the youngest Marquis of the Azure Dragon Kingdom is out!”

“Teacher Qin looks so handsome!”

“Stop pushing me! If you dare push me from behind again, watch out, I’ll hit you! I have the strength of Mysterious Rank Second Tier!”

“Hmph, come and act tough with me when you reach Earth Rank Seventh Tier. I am Mysterious Rank Third Tier! Thank you!”

“Teacher Qin is so young; I really like the look in his eyes!”

…

Seeing this, Qin Li could only stand on the steps and wave to the crowd below, saying, “Hello, everyone!”

“Hello, Teacher Qin!”

The reply was as unified as if rehearsed, the sound wave shaking the sky!

If one didn’t know better, they might think it was prearranged. It showed just how enthusiastic these students were.

Inside his office, Bu Tong couldn’t help but change his expression slightly. The group of lecturers standing outside the crowd, who had originally looked down on Qin Li, also showed shifts in their expressions.

Mixed in the crowd, Qin Feng stared intently at the eyes of the young man on the steps, whose aura stood out. After a long while, he finally let out a sigh of relief, his whole spirit relaxing completely.

It wasn’t him!

No matter how much a person’s appearance changes, their eyes remain the same. Similarly, certain habitual details are hard to change—like posture, or small gestures when speaking.

“Ah, how the world has declined! What’s happened to these geniuses? Have they become idiots from all their training?” The muscular Teacher Wei said with a pained expression.

It wasn’t that they wanted to come along; they had to return here to get back to their offices. But by the time they arrived, the main entrance of the building was completely blocked by students!

Another male teacher laughed and said, “Teacher Wei, weren’t you planning to challenge him? When are you going to say something?”

Teacher Wei curled his lips and said, “I’ll speak up in a moment!”

“Great! We all support Teacher Wei defeating him!” Several lecturers cheered him on.

Teacher Wei sneered inwardly. What a bunch of jerks—they just want to watch the show. But whatever, I don’t care! I refuse to believe that with my super strong Earth Rank Eighth Tier strength, I can’t beat an Earth Rank Seventh Tier!

Especially since he has all Five Elements attributes—jack of all trades, master of none! Even if he’s a genius, without specializing in one field, don’t expect to achieve much! In the Imperial Palace’s Martial Training Arena, it was just that the Heaven Rank Martial Artists couldn’t be bothered with him. As for those useless people from the Great Green Gang, I don’t even regard them! They’re just a bunch of thugs and hooligans!

Those who are truly capable—who would join a gang? Teacher Wei sneered inwardly: So, the task of tearing off your hypocritical mask falls to me, Wei Qiang!

“Students, your admiration for me is overwhelming, and I am truly unworthy! Actually, I am just like all of you—a young person. Some of you here might even be older than me. You are all the future pillars of this nation, the true geniuses! As for me… it was simply luck, having good innate physical qualities that led to my current achievements. I’m not much better than any of you. Now, Vice Principal Bu has arranged a Five Elements subject for me to teach on the first day of every week in the Academy’s large auditorium. I will come every week at that time. The so-called Five Elements are actually Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Any students who practice elemental Combat Techniques, if you have questions, feel free to ask me. Who knows, there might be some knowledge that I’ll have to learn from all of you.”

As Qin Li spoke, he suddenly noticed that the crowd below had become very quiet. The students’ expressions were strange; most of them looked somewhat puzzled. And among the boys and the men standing farther away—who looked like lecturers full of disdain—their eyes were filled with schadenfreude.

Qin Li’s heart stirred slightly, and he immediately understood: there must be some special meaning to the first day of every week!

Thinking this, Qin Li smiled and said, “It’s alright. I will be there the whole day. I can also do some reading. I heard the Royal Library is here. I can enrich myself as well. If students have other matters that day, you can attend to your own business. You’re welcome to come find me anytime.”

Just then, a clear and pleasant female voice rang out from the crowd: “Teacher Qin, every Monday, I will come to seek your guidance!”

As soon as this voice was heard, the murmuring crowd fell silent again. Many people, including Teacher Wei, instantly looked displeased.

Because the one who spoke was the one nobody dared offend—not even Vice Principal Bu Tong—the Emperor’s most beloved little princess, Zhao Qianqian!

In the Empire Advanced Academy, in the eyes of the lecturers, everyone’s status is equal. Whether you are the child of a duke or a minister, or the offspring of a noble family, here you are just an ordinary student!

There was no other way. If it weren’t like this, students would rely on their family backgrounds to do as they pleased, and classes would be impossible to conduct. Fortunately, although most students here were proud, they were also very self-disciplined! Situations of outright defiance were extremely rare. Even geniuses need effort and sweat to succeed!

Examples of lazy and spoiled geniuses turning into failures were common and well-known.

So even Bu Tong had forgotten that there was one formidable person in his Academy whom no one dared to provoke—the Emperor’s most doted-upon little princess, Zhao Qianqian!

Once she said she would attend Qin Li’s class, which teacher would be so foolish as to try and stop her?

Sure enough, after Zhao Qianqian spoke, many others immediately expressed: “We will also attend Teacher Qin’s class!”

“Me too!”

The previously tense atmosphere instantly became lively again. Qin Li smiled, raised his hand, and gently pressed it downward, saying, “Alright then, it seems the first day of every week is when you all have very important matters to attend to. Let’s change the time to every afternoon. I suppose your afternoons are less busy?”

“Yes, afternoons are free!”

“Teacher Qin is so kind!”

“Teacher Qin is so considerate!”

Qin Li gave a faint smile, then turned his head slightly and glanced up at the building without seeming to. A figure on the third floor vanished in a flash. Actually, Qin Li didn’t even need to look—he already knew Bu Tong had come out again to observe the situation. He sneered coldly inside, then stepped onto the Marquis Qin residence’s exclusive carriage. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Little Princess Zhao Qianqian make her way through the crowd and approach him. Shyly but earnestly, she said, “Teacher Qin, may… may I go with you? I have some questions I’d like to ask you!”

Boom!

The students became noisy again. Many girls looked enviously as Zhao Qianqian stepped onto that luxurious carriage, while many boys’ eyes were filled with jealousy.

Qin Feng’s expression also turned ugly, a shadow of gloom appearing in his eyes. He turned and walked away without another word.