Chapter 0541: Qin Yue, Zhao Beili

The two squads landed swiftly in front of Li Luo's squad.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the point leading squad. What an honor," laughed a handsome youth. He had a long spear in hand and was paying special attention to the First Princess and Jiang Qing'e.

Li Luo checked the school badge on his chest.

North Sea Sage College.

The white clothing and well-dressed bearing of the silent student beside him caught his eye. Li Luo realized that it had to be Ao Bai, the winner of the Two Star Hall's strongest student title.

As though sensing Li Luo's stare, Ao Bai turned his head slightly towards him and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Why, if it isn't Qin Yue from the North Sea Sage College." The First Princess smiled at the handsome youth who had spoken.

Qin Yue was the best of the North Sea Sage College's Four Star Hall. The First Princess had met him in the hall-level competition previously. He was roughly a five-pearl Heavenly Pearl cultivator. He was weaker than her, but still very strong in his own right.

"And this must be the Heavenly Inferno Sage College's Zhao Beili?"

The First Princess looked over at Lu Ming's squad, headed by a gaunt youth.

Zhao Beili was slightly more effeminate, but handsome in his own way. He had a slender longsword strapped to his waist, and his long hair was neatly parted behind him. He was the Heavenly Inferno Sage College's strongest Four Star Hall student, and about Qin Yue's equal.

He cupped his fists towards the First Princess in respect. "Greetings, Your Highness. I saw you in the hall-level competition from afar. I was lucky not to meet you then, or I would have been left with my face in the dust."

Both Qin Yue and Zhao Beili were very polite towards the First Princess purely because of her strength. Her status as royalty held no sway outside of the Xia Kingdom.

The First Princess had not won the strongest student title, nor was she even considered the strongest Four Star Hall student from the Astral Sage College. Even so, there were not many who could beat her.

"Brother Zhao is too humble," the First Princess said with a gracious smile.

"It seems like both of your squads were notified of the emergency mission as well?" she enquired of them.

Both Qin Yue and Zhao Beili nodded. "We were coming for the Thunderpeal Mountain objective, then this emergency mission popped up. Not sure why a squad disappeared."

"Keke, since we're all here for the same reason, won't you join forces with us, Your Highness? Safety in numbers," they both said openly.

The First Princess did not immediately answer, but turned to Jiang Qing'e. Jiang Qing'e turned to Li Luo.

Li Luo didn't know where to turn. He started to sweat. What was a scrub like him supposed to do?

But since the plump swan was giving him such an honor, Li Luo had to step up to it. "There’s no requirement to finish the mission alone," he said affably. "Many hands make light work."

The First Princess turned to Qin Yue and Zhao Beili. "Then it would be our pleasure to work with you gentlemen."

Qin Yue and Zhao Beili nodded and smiled, but now they looked at Li Luo differently. Of course they had heard of the strongest One Star Hall student Li Luo, but this was the mixed-level competition... One Star Hall students were usually here as helpful, little fleas, and Li Luo was going to be no exception even as the strongest of the fleas.

It made sense that the First Princess would check with Jiang Qing'e. Even Heavenly Pearl stage cultivators like them would not dare take her lightly. Her strength would be a huge asset.

But Li Luo... was still far from useful. Why would they all look to Li Luo for the final decision? It was vexing.

Their conclusion was that the First Princess was being polite to Jiang Qing'e, and rumor was that Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo... had a special connection. Could it be real?

Still, they let none of this confusion show on their faces. They simply nodded and carried on as if it was the most normal thing in the world that the point leading squad was being led by a One Star Hall mouse. They introduced their squad members around and made some icebreaker conversation.

Li Luo watched on quietly as the squads conferred. He could sense that the North Sea Sage College's Qin Yue had some sort of special interest in the First Princess. That was not surprising. She was beautiful, but not a delicate ornament to be left in the display case. When the situation called for it, she could roll up her sleeves and wade in with the rest of the Four Star Hall elites. There was definitely much for Qin Yue to appreciate there.

While the three squad leaders conferred, Li Luo strolled up to the girl who was glancing at him once in a while. "We meet again. And this time on the same side."

Lu Ming folded her arms, drawing her clothes even tighter around her beautiful figure. "I still can't believe you actually beat Jing Taixu. I thought he would make mincemeat out of you."

"It’s because I didn't have to spend too much energy fighting you," Li Luo answered seriously.

Lu Ming glared at him. Was he trying to say that she was a pushover? Easily passed?

"Hmph, if not for your poison tricks, I would have had you then," she sniffed.

Li Luo chuckled and stopped teasing her. "Well, if we meet a strong enemy later, think of how we can cooperate, huh?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "As if we One Star Hall students could contribute anything. We're just here as a formality. Or did you think you were going to be the star of the show again?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that..."

Lu Ming was glancing over at Jiang Qing'e occasionally as well, and she finally lowered her voice. "Hey, Li Luo. Is Senior Jiang really your fiancée?"

"So you're one of the gossipy ones too," Li Luo said irritatedly. He had thought the cold and aloof Lu Ming would be beyond that.

Lu Ming flushed a little. "Anyone would be interested in such news!" she blurted. "She's the most outstanding girl here at the Holy Grail Meet, and all of us are proud of what she's done for female students. To think that you and her...

"How did you get so lucky with her anyway?" she demanded.

"Lucky? Inevitable, I'd say." Li Luo shrugged. "Beautiful girl, handsome man, how could we not be together?"

Lu Ming almost gagged at how brazen he was, then she settled for a derisive cluck of the tongue.

"What are you guys chatting about?" a cheerful voice asked. It was the Heavenly Inferno Sage College’s squad leader, Zhao Beili. "I thought Junior Lu Ming would be a little sore after the hall-level competition and refuse to work with Junior Li Luo, but it seems like you guys are really getting along here."

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"I wouldn't be so petty, Senior Zhao," Lu Ming said stiffly. "Both wins and losses are normal in competitions."

"Indeed," Zhao Beili agreed amiably. "Anyway, this foray won't be easy. Junior Lu Ming, please be careful. Of course, I'll be protecting you."

Li Luo understood now that Zhao Beili was interested in her. No wonder he would inject himself into the conversation when they seemed chummy.

But seeing Lu Ming's reaction, the interest probably wasn't reciprocated.

"Keke, Junior Li Luo, the three of us have finished discussing our next move now. You should rejoin your squad quickly and prepare to move out," he said with a cool smile.

Li Luo was just too handsome, and any girl would fall for him. He had better watch the silver-haired devil carefully. Li Luo sensed the coolness from him but could not fathom why. “Zhao Beili surely doesn't have any brains. Can't he see Jiang Qing'e watching them like a hawk already? Would I really dare to try anything with her around?

“Besides, am I really that kind of playboy?”

He felt a sudden urge to kick the floor childishly, but instead, he waved to Lu Ming like a gentleman and returned to his squad.

In any case, the three squads had their basic communications down, and together they headed into the thunder-filled mountain range.