The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 1383

Chapter 1383: 672 Second Watch

Xiao Hen bought two flavors of dried meat, one spicy and one honey sesame flavored. Additionally, he bought a bag of tofu-based vegetarian dried meat for little Jingkong.

He found Gu Jiao at the lantern riddle stall and handed her two boxes of the dried meat.

Gu Jiao first tried a piece of the spicy one, its sweet and spicy taste tinged with a slight numbness, making for a rich flavor experience.

"You should try a piece too," Gu Jiao offered, passing the box to Xiao Hen.

To make it easier for Gu Jiao to eat, Xiao Hen took all the lanterns she was holding.

Xiao Hen lifted the lanterns in his hand, indicating to Gu Jiao that his hands were now full.

As a result, Gu Jiao took a piece of dried meat and fed it directly into his mouth.

Xiao Hen ate it with a smile.

"Does it taste good?" Gu Jiao asked.

"Delicious," he said, looking deeply at her.

Mu Qingchen felt a pang of jealousy, his heart filled with irritation.

There seemed to be a strange atmosphere between the two of them, as if no one else could intervene.

Xiao Hen bought extra, so Mu Chuan and the others also got a taste of the dried meat.

The three of them held a fairly good impression of Xiao Hen: he was capable, talented, well-mannered, measured in his actions, and had remarkable speech, a person worth befriending.

Mu Chuan held a box of dried meat, eating as he asked, "Young Master Long, which Academy are you studying at? Does your Academy participate in cuju matches?"

Although Xiao Hen wore a mask, both his eyes and voice were very youthful, and coupled with his overflowing talent, Mu Chuan deduced that he was a student.

Xiao Hen replied, "I’m not studying at an Academy."

Mu Chuan sighed, "What a pity, I was hoping to invite you to watch the cuju match."

Yuan Xiao said, "Non-Academy students can also watch. Young Master Long, if you’re free tomorrow, come along."

Xiao Hen nodded with a smile, "Alright."

Mu Qingchen gave the group a cold look and said, "You’re still aware of the cuju match. It’s getting late; we should head back."

Mu Chuan pleaded, "Ah, come on, Fourth Brother, let’s stay and play a bit longer. I haven’t won enough lanterns yet."

Mu Qingchen replied coldly, "You’ve given away all the lanterns you won, what’s the point of winning more?"

Mu Chuan pouted, still wanting to argue, when their martial arts instructor came looking for them.

Now, they had no choice but to obediently follow the martial arts instructor back to the Inn.

Under the keen gaze of the martial arts instructor, Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen couldn’t have a heartfelt farewell and parted as if nothing had happened.

Back at the Inn, Gu Jiao opened her room door, and Mu Qingchen suddenly asked, "Are you two really meeting for the first time today?"

Without changing expression, Gu Jiao replied, "Yes."

Mu Qingchen hesitated, then thought better of it. After all, even if they knew each other, it didn’t concern him.

"Go to sleep," he said indifferently, stepping into his room.

Gu Jiao placed the two lanterns by the bedside, washed up, and went to bed.

The next day, after breakfast, they followed their martial arts instructor to Lingbo Academy.

The instructor, as usual, drew lots in the attic.

With a solemn face, he came to Tianqiong Academy’s quarters.

Mu Chuan asked, "Martial Arts Master, which Academy are we facing off against? Lingbo Academy or Jianan Academy?"

It was down to just three Academies at this point in the competition.

To everyone’s surprise, the martial arts instructor shook his head and said, "Neither."

In shock, Mu Chuan stammered, "Nei-neither? How can that be?"

The martial arts instructor said gravely, "It’s Shaolin Academy."

Gu Jiao understood, Shaolin Academy hadn’t participated in the earlier matches and was essentially a new addition, the reason being both Songshan Academy and Zizhu Academy had been disqualified from the competition after a brawl, thus leaving an additional spot to advance.

As for why the spot wasn’t given to a previously eliminated team and instead went straight to a new entrant, that would be a question for the organizers.

Gu Jiao asked, "Did the other Academies have no objections?"

The martial arts instructor said, "The eliminated Academies had no objections; it’s likely because they all had previously lost to Shaolin Academy."

Shaolin Academy was last year’s champion. The martial arts instructor had breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing they wouldn’t be participating this year, but as the saying goes, what you’re afraid of will come to pass.

"How did we end up facing them? And on the first match too," said the martial arts instructor, his morale falling.

"Are all the students from Shaolin Academy monks?" Yuan Xiao asked curiously.

The martial arts instructor shook his head, "Not all. There are monks, secular disciples, and ordinary citizens as well."

Yuan Xiao then asked, "So among those who came for the cuju, are there ordinary citizens?"