Chapter 15: Slap in the Face, Securing the First Blood!

Jiang Qingli stared at Ye Linyuan, her entire body stiffening.

Ling Sheng, who had been staring at her the whole time, suddenly became even more smug.

Jiang Qingli had been chasing after her brother and hadn't come to the academy for over a month. If she received a disciplinary action for this course, she would fail!

Just imagine how much embarrassment that would cause!

He looked toward Ye Linyuan and urged, "Cousin, look at my injury!"

Ye Linyuan glanced over and then looked at Jiang Qingli. "Do you have anything to say?"

"Professor Ye." Jiang Qingli pursed her lips, her eyes cast down innocently. "It was just... an unintentional mistake."

"Is that so?"

Ye Linyuan lowered his voice. It should have sounded like an interrogation, but the slight lift at the end of his sentence acted like a subtle, imperceptible hook.

Jiang Qingli nodded, her demeanor appearing quite fragile.

"Liar!" Ling Sheng interjected. "She's just taking her anger out on me because her brother dumped her and she picked up a few trash F-class males!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Linyuan raised his eyes coldly, and Ling Sheng fell instantly silent.

Damn it, he had forgotten—his cousin was also an F-class loser who only became a specially appointed professor this semester thanks to the protection of his family...

As the tension hung in the air, the bell rang.

Ye Linyuan’s expression remained cold. "Class begins."

"But..." Ling Sheng wanted to continue.

Ye Linyuan’s voice was icy. "Shut up."

Those two short words carried a powerful pressure that made it difficult to breathe.

As Ye Linyuan passed Jiang Qingli, his footsteps paused slightly. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, his brow furrowing as if his eyes were filled with condemnation.

Jiang Qingli blinked innocently.

Ye Linyuan gave a huff, withdrew his gaze, and did not look at her again.

However, once they reached the practice area, Jiang Qingli’s terminal received a message.

Ye Linyuan: 【Follow me after class.】

Jiang Qingli: 【?】

Ye Linyuan: 【I can ignore your 'unintentional mistake,' but you need to pay the price.】

Jiang Qingli: 【I have no money.】

Ye Linyuan: 【You're short on money?】

【The First Imperial Bank reminds you: User 'Ye Linyuan' has enabled account sharing with you. You may use the balance of the other party's account.】

Ye Linyuan: 【Do it once.】

Jiang Qingli: "..."

Even though she knew he was referring to mental healing, that tone was truly easy to misinterpret.

***

After being divided into groups, they quickly entered the simulated combat environment for training.

Jiang Qingli stepped into the device.

When she closed her eyes and opened them again, she was standing in a dilapidated, corroded urban area.

Semi-transparent text appeared before her eyes: 【Welcome to the Basic Shooting Course. Target: Mutant Beasts x3】

【Score will be determined by a combination of time, accuracy, and the extent of your own health loss.】

The simulated environment was incredibly realistic; the stench of corrosion hit her like a physical blow.

Currently, most galaxies had fallen into darkness. Outside the twelve cities of Blue Star, natural disasters raged and mutant beasts ran wild.

While the Empire had stabilized the situation, all higher institutions scheduled military courses to prepare for the future.

Although the Jiang family had produced several generals, the original owner of this body was not good at these things; her scores in close-quarters combat and boxing classes over the past two years had barely scraped by.

Jiang Qingli was prepared to finish at the bottom alongside Qin Muye.

However, when a giant mutant beast charged toward them, Jiang Qingli instinctively drew her gun and raised her hand.

A laser bullet shot out, striking the mutant beast directly between its eyes!

The beast let out a scream before dissolving into electrical particles.

【Congratulations to student Jiang Qingli for the first kill!】

【Current Ranking: 1/73】

【Remaining Targets: 2】

Jiang Qingli was stunned.

Beside her, Qin Muye, who had just reached out to protect her, narrowed his eyes.

Before she could think, a shrill scream erupted from behind them.

Two mutant beasts lunged toward them in a frenzy.

Qin Muye grabbed the dazed female and rolled across the ground.

Snow leopard ears sprouted from the top of Qin Muye's head as he carried Jiang Qingli to slightly higher ground.

"Try again." Qin Muye lifted Jiang Qingli's hand.

Jiang Qingli aimed at one of the mutant beasts.

With a proficiency that suggested countless hours of practice, she easily hit the beast.

Her aim wasn't as precise this time, hitting only its wing.

The two mutant beasts locked onto their position and began stumbling toward them.

Perhaps due to the speed boost from the snow leopard traits, Qin Muye’s agility and speed were immense. He dodged around while holding Jiang Qingli, occasionally raising his hand to fire a shot at the beasts.

But the mutant beasts continued their relentless assault, gradually falling into a disadvantage.

Jiang Qingli frowned with some frustration and suggested timidly, "Maybe we should just find a place to hide?"

She remembered that simulated training usually lasted half an hour.

As long as they found a place to hide and stayed low enough, she could still get a passing grade.

"Why run?" Qin Muye snorted, gripping Jiang Qingli's hand from behind.

He supported her, aiming the muzzle at the mutant beasts.

Qin Muye's voice was calm. "Now."

Jiang Qingli focused her attention and pulled the trigger hard!

The bullets struck the heads of both mutant beasts simultaneously!

A mist of blood scattered.

At that moment, a line of large text appeared in every simulated environment—

【Congratulations to students Jiang Qingli and Qin Muye for completing the Shortest Time Kill achievement!】

【Congratulations to student Jiang Qingli for completing the 'One Shot, Two Birds' achievement!】

The entire field erupted in an uproar.

Bai Yiyi, who was struggling to kill a single mutant beast alongside Chi Yun, widened her eyes, her face contorting.

How was that possible?!

Jiang Qingli was clearly the worst at this!

How could she...

This must be fake!

Jiang Qingli must be cheating!

Suppressing her terror, Bai Yiyi said to Chi Yun with feigned delight, "My cousin is so amazing! She actually took down two at once. It seems she's been practicing hard this past month!"

Chi Yun, staring at the electronic broadcast, snapped back to reality.

"Her? How is that possible!" Chi Yun sneered. "She must be cheating. If she's at this level, I'll eat shit while doing a handstand!"

"This system is truly outdated; it can't even detect such obvious cheating!" Chi Yun gritted his teeth. "I'm going to report her in a moment!"

Just as she was fuming, a mutant beast swiped at them, sending the two flying and leaving them with mouths full of acid rain and mud.

***

Many people believed Jiang Qingli was cheating.

After class, Chi Yun teamed up with several noble children from maternal clans who were not inferior to the Jiang family. They blocked Ye Linyuan's path as he tried to leave, demanding he conduct a thorough investigation into Jiang Qingli.

"Jiang Qingli cannot be number one; she definitely cheated!"

"That's right! She must have had someone hack the system! This isn't the first time she's done something like this; she used a proxy for her 'Imperial History' exam last semester!"

"We all trained so hard; why does a cheater like her get the highest score!"

The voices were noisy and shrill; some even tried to grab Jiang Qingli's hand.

However, before they could touch her, Jiang Qingli was gently pulled back by Qin Muye and shielded behind him.

"Get lost!" Qin Muye's grayish-blue eyes were filled with rage, looking like a ferocious beast whose territory had been violated.

He was actually protecting Jiang Qingli so fiercely.

The nobles hesitated.

Chi Yun stared at their joined hands, becoming even more agitated. She raised her voice, "Is His Highness the Prince also going to shield a cheater?"

"Try saying that one more time?" Qin Muye stepped forward and grabbed the other's collar.

His strength was staggering; Chi Yun found herself unable to resist.

How could this be? She was an S-class!

Qin Muye was just an F-class loser!

As the standoff continued, Bai Yiyi spoke up.

She pursed her lips and looked at Ye Linyuan. "Professor Ye, my cousin is a first-time offender. Could you please not report this to the academy? She can't take any more disciplinary actions..."

Jiang Qingli almost rolled her eyes.

This Bai Yiyi was clearly terrified that she wouldn't be punished.

"I didn't cheat."

Jiang Qingli stepped forward, her voice clear and composed.

Chi Yun immediately snapped, "What evidence do you have that you didn't cheat?"

Jiang Qingli looked up. "What evidence do you have that I did?"

"You—" Chi Yun nearly jumped in rage.

Amidst the chaos, Ye Linyuan delivered the verdict: "She did not cheat."

"How is that possible?!"

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd exploded again at his words.

"Professor Ye, do you know Jiang Qingli?!"

"You can't be biased just because you're a professor!"

Bai Yiyi felt uneasy and was about to say something more when a calm, unhurried voice came from behind—

"Why wouldn't it be possible?"

"Three years ago, in the recommendation exam, Jiang Qingli scored straight As in all physical fitness categories."