From the Heavens Descended an Immortal Sister

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Elder immediately displayed an epiphanic expression and said, "Is Your Highness secretly investigating the social standing of the lower-class students with Young Master Fang?"

Bai Qi froze upon hearing his words, as she had not even thought about an excuse herself, yet the Seventh Elder had already drafted the script for her…

"Ahem." Bai Qi coughed and adopted an even more serious expression, "Indeed, all of us are of the same kin, and in society, we should enjoy equal treatment rather than letting superior treatment become the exclusive privilege of the Nobles."

The Seventh Elder also spoke earnestly, "Your Highness is truly a woman of great virtue and wisdom; this old man admires you wholeheartedly!"

Bai Qi blushed with the praise; she had never been involved in politics from a young age, living a carefree and joyous life daily. The idea of being a woman of great virtue and wisdom... that had never even crossed her mind.

"Alright, alright, you better go now, or it will arouse suspicion again," Bai Qi waved him off and said, "As for concealing our identities, I\'ll leave it to you."

"This old man shall put forth his utmost effort!"

With that, Bai Qi quickly pulled Fang Ren along and walked away into the distance.

Left behind, the Seventh Elder\'s head full of disheveled white hair became even messier with the wind. Watching Bai Qi and Fang Ren leave, he couldn\'t help but sigh, "Isn\'t His relationship with Young Master Fang quite good? Why then say he\'s going to find Song Mobei? What is Her Highness thinking...

No, I must go back and hint to those grandsons in the guild that they better not cause any trouble in the next few days!"

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"Not to mention, your identity is quite useful. You don\'t even have to think of a reason; others will draft the excuse for you," Fang Ren said with a laugh.

"Why are you still focusing on that issue?" Bai Qi frowned, "Shouldn\'t you be thinking more about what we should do next?"

"Do what?" Fang Ren was startled.

"Of course, it\'s the matter of whether or not to cheat."

"Is there even a need to say it? He has already concocted a legitimate reason for cheating for you, would it not be a loss if we don\'t cheat?"

Since the Seventh Elder believed they were there to understand the social treatment of lower-class students, even if they cheated, he would only assume that they were continuing their investigation.

Also, if Her Highness wished to investigate matters, would they not fully cooperate, let alone consider an alchemy competition?

"Although that\'s said..." Bai Qi spoke with distress, "But... I still don\'t want you to be wronged."

"Isn\'t it just being mocked a few times? That fits perfectly with our investigation into the social standing of the lower-class students," Fang Ren said.

As he finished speaking, Bai Qi took two steps, stood in front of him, and looked into his eyes very seriously, "You know I\'m not talking about that."

"Then what is it?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Ren was clueless. He felt he hadn\'t been wronged up until now. Was Bai Qi perhaps worrying too much?

"You\'re still pretending!"

She was clearly referring to the ridicule he would face for taking her to see Song Mobei, yet he only mentioned the latter half.

Bai Qi turned away in frustration and said, "I\'ve changed my mind."

"Changed what mind?" Fang Ren couldn\'t fathom the girl\'s train of thought.

Bai Qi did not speak immediately, pausing for a moment to calm the frustration in her heart due to his own wronging, before speaking, "Even if I don\'t go to see Brother Song, it doesn\'t matter; stop sacrificing for me like this..."

"..."

Fang Ren was utterly baffled now. It wasn\'t because he couldn\'t understand what was in her mind—it was because he understood her all too well that he was baffled.

He had never imagined that this girl actually took seriously the matter of him liking her, and what was even more bizarre, she believed that he was participating in the alchemy contest entirely to let her meet Song Mobei.

That is, in this girl\'s mind, he was cast as the tragic soap opera character who willingly bears everything to help the person he likes be with someone else.

Moreover, his scripted role involved enduring ridicule from others, resorting to unfair means to bring the person he liked together with the person she liked.

Fang Ren was completely dumbfounded.

A girl with an overactive imagination truly is frightening!

Up till now, he had never even considered cheating from start to finish, and as for going to the finals of the alchemy contest, one reason was to vex his uncle, and the second was to see his wife, who was already with child.

No matter how he thought about it, these two matters had nothing to do with Bai Qi.

It was only because Bai Qi was still unaware of his and Mu Huanqing\'s situation, and since Bai Qi still held very loyal views towards their betrothal, he temporarily could not tell her, which was why he had to help her get to the finals to meet Song Mobei, eventually to reveal his relationship with Mu Huanqing to her.

That was all there was to it.

"You girl…"

Watching Bai Qi turning her back, Fang Ren\'s face was etched with deep resentment.

"I already told you not to call me \'girl\'." Bai Qi turned her head back angrily, "Also, don\'t you change the subject on me, I\'m being serious here."

"I haven\'t done anything for you, okay? I just want to meet Madame Xuan and prove myself," Fang Ren said with a face full of distress.

"Still making excuses. Yesterday, when I said I\'d take you to have dinner with her, you didn\'t agree, and now you say you want to meet her, you are so…" Bai Qi was both angry and helpless, ultimately letting out a sigh.

After hearing what she said, Fang Ren metaphorically slapped himself in the face. About the dinner yesterday, he said he didn\'t want to go, only because he feared she would feel like a third wheel.

But now the girl had taken his liking for her seriously, and in her ears, the story had taken on a completely different flavor: it sounded like he clearly liked her, yet was being hypocritical about it.

Forget it, forget it, to explain this could likely bring up Mu Huanqing, and if this girl learns about him and Mu Huanqing even having a child together, given her views on the sanctity of marriage, who knows what she might do.

It\'s better to wait until the alchemy competition when she sees Song Mobei, then he could clear things up. By then, this girl might be ready to let herself pursue the person she likes, and she probably won\'t take his issues with Mu Huanqing so seriously anymore.

"Forget it, forget it."

Before Fang Ren could speak, Bai Qi shook her head with annoyance, "Don\'t cheat this time, I don\'t want to meet Brother Song anymore."

Upon hearing that she wouldn\'t meet Song Mobei, Fang Ren\'s face fell.

Although the whole thing had no impact on his meeting with Mu Huanqing, if she wouldn\'t meet Song Mobei, when would he ever be able to come clean about Mu Huanqing to her? Was he supposed to keep her in the dark forever?

Fang Ren paused for a moment, feeling that it wasn\'t such a big problem after all since neither of them liked the other. It was just her strong view on the concept of "fiancé and fiancée" that mattered, but such views could be influenced over time.

As long as he guided her properly…

"No worry, this time I will definitely make it to the finals," Fang Ren said confidently.

"I said I\'m not going," she reiterated.

Bai Qi turned and walked away furiously.

She did not want this man to suffer, especially not for her, and now she suddenly regretted letting Fang Ren come here in the first place.

Initially, when she discussed this with Fang Ren, she thought that even if he was ridiculed upon coming here, she would bear it with him and make it up to him afterward.

But after arriving here, when Fang Ren was really being mocked by a group of aristocrat students, she found that she couldn\'t bear it silently as she had thought she would and share the ridicule with him.

She was very angry, intolerably so.

It wasn\'t because she was being mocked, but rather she couldn\'t bear to see Fang Ren being bullied like that in front of her.

He was obviously such a good person; he hadn\'t offended anyone since arriving here. So why was he without the school\'s endorsement and resented by the invigilator? Why were those groups of noble students all mocking him?

If Fang Ren hadn\'t pressed down on her head at that moment, she would have definitely thrown all the mocking words back at all the people present without hesitation.

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Visit the Superior Alchemist Guild?

Visiting was out of the question, Bai Qi walked directly onto the main street with Fang Ren following closely by her side.

Because most of the nobles had chosen to stay and visit the Guild, the pair walking down the street were instantly free from those annoying stares.

Ever since the dispelling mark was placed on Bai Qi, many of her habits had become quite similar to those of an average person. And due to the fact that she had been working for the past few days, her appetite had grown a bit.

Now, when she encountered something unpleasant, she wanted to have a big meal. After all, gaining weight didn\'t matter, right? As soon as she regained her strength, losing weight would be a piece of cake.

They arrived at a local restaurant famous for its specialties, and without a second thought, Bai Qi ordered ten dishes.

"Let\'s settle the matter about the tournament like this. You are not allowed to cheat again; either participate with your true abilities or forfeit. Let\'s go back quietly and steadily," Bai Qi said while gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Okay, okay," Fang Ren agreed indifferently. Compete with his real abilities? Wouldn\'t that be bullying the college students?

"Don\'t be so unhappy," Bai Qi kept talking, "Those guys are low-class; there\'s no need to dwell on it. I\'ll go out with you later to cheer you up. Wherever you want to go, I\'ll accompany you. Just take care of your mood, it\'ll be fine."

When Fang Ren heard her comforting him, he smiled and shook his head, "I just want to go to the hotel right now."

Who had time for shopping? All he wanted to do was find a place quickly to raise his soul force and break through the realm that was on the verge of breaking through.

If he held back any longer, the True Qi in his body would start to revolt.