Chapter 1: Chapter 5: You Are a Genius (1)

Did they really think she was that easy to bully?

Nalan Zhenyue lowered her face, speaking in a delicate, intermittent voice: "I... want... to go... out..."

Chen Sao’s eyes lit up. She tossed aside the chicken bone and hurriedly said, "You’re really willing to go out?!"

She did not notice anything unusual about Nalan Zhenyue.

In the past, whenever Chen Sao and Xiuyun brought this up, Nalan Zhenyue wouldn't even make a sound. She would hide in the corner of the woodshed, her eyes dull, refusing to leave the Nalan estate.

Nalan Zhenyue gave a slight nod.

Chen Sao’s tone softened a little. "I’m telling you, once I let you out in a moment, don't you dare come back!" Seeming still a bit uncertain, she repeated it once more.

"Mm." Nalan Zhenyue’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum.

Chen Sao was overjoyed, thinking to herself: This is truly a relief. Today just happens to be the day of the testing; if this stinking beggar is willing to leave, I’ll just let her go. No one will notice. If anyone asks later, I’ll just say she snuck off. Anyway, nobody likes her; even if she runs away, no one will hold me accountable!

Chen Sao thought happily and said, "Hurry up, I’ll take you out through the back door."

Nalan Zhenyue straightened her body and followed Chen Sao out.

The sunlight outside was too dazzling. Nalan Zhenyue instinctively squinted her eyes, and by the time she adjusted, Chen Sao was already whispering and urging her on.

They couldn't leave through the front door; there were guards there. Although Nalan Zhenyue was disliked, it was still impossible for her to leave openly through the main gate.

Besides, Chen Sao wasn't stupid enough to take her through the front.

If they went through the back door and walked to the other side of the fork in the road, they would reach the martial arts arena.

Every great family had its own dedicated martial arts arena, which contained both competition platforms and areas specifically for testing a warrior's rank.

Of course, warriors needed to have their ranks tested; the Nalan estate held tests every three months. Summoners, however, did not. When the descendants of the Nalan estate reached a certain age, they had to participate in the Summoner Ceremony, which was held in conjunction with the testing.

Furthermore, descendants who had already become summoners did not need to be tested; instead, they engaged in sparring and competition with other summoners.

Only those who successfully summoned a mystical beast were true summoners.

If one could not become a summoner, there was still the path of the warrior to choose from.

Nalan Zhenyue walked behind Chen Sao, watching coldly as she glanced toward the martial arts arena from time to time.

The sounds of lively cheering grew closer, and Nalan Zhenyue stopped in her tracks.

Chen Sao hadn't noticed yet, and by the time she did, she saw Nalan Zhenyue walking toward the martial arts arena.

Chen Sao was greatly alarmed. Her slightly chubby legs moved surprisingly fast, and she caught up to Nalan Zhenyue immediately.

"You stinking beggar, are you looking for death? Why are you walking this way?! Come here, this way! Are you an idiot? Hurry up, hurry up!!!" Chen Sao grabbed the back of Nalan Zhenyue’s clothes and whispered.

Her tone was already very displeased, but at that moment, Nalan Zhenyue glanced at her unhurriedly.

It was just that one look, and for some reason, Chen Sao’s heart turned ice-cold.

What kind of look was that?

It was like taking the cold snow from the Heavenly Mountains and placing it into your bed, right against your warm skin—in a word, cold!

Only then did Chen Sao feel that something was wrong, and the strength in her hand increased.

She looked as if she were determined to drag Nalan Zhenyue back by force.

The wound on Nalan Zhenyue’s back was pulled, and fresh blood immediately seeped through the burlap clothes.

Yet, she didn't even frown. She turned her head abruptly and shouted in a deep voice: "Get lost!!!"

Her gaze was extremely sharp, shooting out like a blade.

"You—" Chen Sao was stunned into silence.

"Get lost—"