"Good morning, Second Brother."

"Good morning."

In the dining room of the Qin residence, Qin Yueshi, after washing up, came over to have breakfast. Qin Yueyang, as usual, had gotten up early, but today he wasn't wearing his classic black-cross white coat. Instead, he wore a blue uniform that Qin Yueshi found quite familiar.

After taking a bite of a bun, Qin Yueshi couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, did you join the Yanjing Statistical Department?"

Qin Yueyang shook his head and then nodded, "It's not exactly joining officially, nor am I a formal agent, just a temporary identity to conveniently enter the Statistical Department."

"Why do you need to go in and out of the Statistical Department?"

"It's Brother's task."

As expected, Qin Yueshi thought to herself. She had long known that her eldest brother wasn't someone content with an ordinary life—thoughts like earning enough money and then retiring, getting married in Yanjing and having kids, living a peaceful life—probably never even crossed his mind for a second.

People like Qin Le Yin are born to destroy things. If the Silver Blood Association was in front of him, he'd destroy it. If Zhengwei was in front of him, he'd tear him apart.

Now, he's come to Yanjing.

But the Statistical Department... Qin Yueshi frowned slightly, wondering if her brother was going to stand with the villains again?

Recently, while training at the Martial Arts Club, she had heard snippets about the current state of the Yanjing Statistical Department in her peers' conversations. To put it bluntly, the Yanjing Statistical Department's attitude towards the citizens is similar to that of the other districts'—that is, they disregard them.

Qin Yueshi wasn't exactly firmly on the citizens' side either. All these years, she had been on the ruling class's side, and it's not something that can be changed quickly—she hasn't become a new-age woman betraying her class, nor has she evolved into a remnant of the old days, stuck in a phase where she could become either a saint or a demon at any moment.

It's precisely because of her vacillation that her feelings towards Qin Le Yin are so complex: if she sided with the Silver Blood Association, she should applaud and support her brother's actions, as he defeated the treacherous Zhengwei on the spot; if she stood with the citizens, then Qin Le Yin was the villain, yet she herself had also become one of the villains the people wanted to overthrow.

Her rationality and stance couldn't align, plus old grudges and new grievances, so even now, Qin Yueshi couldn't properly evaluate Qin Le Yin.

But without a doubt, the Yanjing Statistical Department was evil—regardless of who you asked, this kind of spy organization with the power to kill was evil—and with Le Yin mingling with Yanjing, he was surely becoming an adorable yet exasperating villain again.

"So what are you doing at the Statistical Department?" Qin Yueshi asked, feigning curiosity.

During the previous Dongyang district epic storyline task, "The Overthrow of Silver Blood," Qin Yueshi was practically unaware the entire time, dragged to the end by her brothers.

But this time, she didn't want to remain clueless. She wanted to know what her brothers were doing and judge their actions on her own.

Over the past few days in class, Qin Yueshi had discussed her family issues with Sister Qian and others, who all agreed that such internal family conflicts were nearly impossible to resolve. You can't beat your big brother, and you can't sever ties, especially since you're still relying on their money for school. Economic independence is unattainable, so it's all just childish tantrums.

Li Ying, however, suggested a feasible plan: "If you can make your big brother owe you a favor and repay his ongoing kindness, you could then resent him without feeling indebted."

Even though Kui Nian Ruo quickly pointed out that Li Ying was borrowing a plot from a romance novel, Qin Yueshi still thought it was doable. If she wanted to rebel against her brothers and make them bow their heads in apology, she first had to gain their recognition.

Otherwise, she'd forever remain the weak sister arranged and protected by her two brothers, being told, "It's for your own good," without any control over her life, a mere puppet in their hands.

Although she wouldn't admit it, ever since her brother's personality change, when he was sarcastic, ironic, and eerily caustic towards her, she was not only angry but also a little bit... happy.

Because, at the very least, it showed her brother was willing to acknowledge her emotions, willing to communicate with her. It was better than before when he said all the right things but never did anything to make her happy.

"We're collaborating with Shi Huai Feng on a business deal that requires cooperation with the Statistical Department," Qin Yueyang said. "As for what business, you'll know in a few days."

"His idea?"

"Mm."

"Is his relationship with the Statistical Department good?" Qin Yueshi asked naively, "If we have the Statistical Department as a backer, does that mean I can walk around the Academy unchallenged? Speaking of which, there's been a murder case at home recently, and it was the Statistical Department that came to investigate!"

Qin Yueyang glanced at her and shook his head, "No, not at all. Brother's relationship with the Statistical Department is very bad, almost to the point of life or death. If you encounter someone from the Statistical Department, it's best to steer clear... I'm not joking."

"Huh?" Qin Yueshi was taken aback, "Then isn't it difficult for you and Shi Huai Feng at the Statistical Department?"

"No worries, while we're at the Statistical Department, we've isolated others, so it's not too bad."

You two isolated hundreds of people at the Statistical Department?

Qin Yueshi muttered a word, then suddenly said, "By the way, he's going to have his first class today."

"Mm."

"Aren't you curious?"

"Are you looking forward to it?" Qin Yueyang countered.

"How could that be? Why would I expect him to spew anything good?" Qin Yueshi pouted, "I just saw that his course mentioned Zhengwei—he has no respect for the dead, kills people and then drags them out to whip. It's really..."

"I suggest you go listen to the class," Qin Yueyang calmly said, "The main framework of the lesson was designed by the brother, but some parts I supplemented... It should benefit you."

"Is that so..." Qin Yueshi tilted her head, "Speaking of which, when does he plan to come back?"

Then she seemed to clarify, "I don't wish for him to come back, just curious how long he can shamelessly linger at the Academy freeloading. Just the thought of hearing his caustic remarks at the Academy ruins my mood for studying."

"If there are no other accidents, Brother will return home in half a year."

"What if there's another accident?"

Qin Yueyang glanced at her.

"Then big brother will return home early, and you won't hear his sarcastic comments ever again."

Qin Yueshi blinked: "Second brother, are you... joking?"

Qin Yueyang didn't respond, stood up, and said, "I'm going to find Shi Huaifeng. You've been training your Combat Technique rigorously, have a full breakfast before going to school."

...

...

Throughout the entire morning, Qin Yueshi was pondering over what her second brother had said.

Watching the math teacher write two formulas on the blackboard, she slowly fell into contemplation.

Could it be that Qin Le Yin might encounter danger within the academy? How is that possible!

If Yanjing is the safest city in the entire Radiance, then the Imperial Academy is the safest place in Yanjing, comparable only to the Radiant Imperial Court. Qin Yueshi also knows that with Principal Cha Huan at the helm of the Platinum Tower, any malicious incident occurring within the academy would be instantly terminated. She's even witnessed golden light emanating from the Platinum Tower continuously pounding the heads of two boys who were about to fight until they embraced in tears, at which point the punishment from the Platinum Tower ceased.

Furthermore, Qing Le Yin himself is also a powerful Martial Artist with Integration and Mastery, how could he possibly encounter danger within the academy? Would he die from provoking the principal due to his foul mouth?

On the other hand, Qin Yueshi vaguely realizes that her big brother never engages in anything safe. Everything he's done in the Dongyang district has been high-risk, high-reward, and now he's infiltrated the Imperial Academy as a foreigner with no teaching experience, could it be just to pick a young female student as a wife?

"Sister Shi, Sister Shi," said Kui Nianruo next to her, poking Qin Yueshi's elbow, "Quick, copy the notes."

"Ah?!" Qin Yueshi snapped back to reality, picked up her pen, and looked at the blackboard—

Wait a minute!

Why is the entire blackboard full of class notes!

When I looked just now, weren't there only two formulas?

Don't erase it, I haven't copied it yet!

"Didn't copy the notes, did you," Li Ying comfortingly patted Qin Yueshi's shoulder, "It's okay, I didn't copy them either."

Though she felt it was quite wrong, Qin Yueshi was indeed comforted by Li Ying.

"I've copied them, I'll lend you my notebook later," Kui Nianruo said softly.

"Thank you, Nianruo!" Qin Yueshi couldn't help but hug Kui Nianruo, who was both cute and easy to tease. Aside from her respect for Sister Qian, Qin Yueshi was closest to her.

"What's made you absent-minded today, did something happen?" Kui Nianruo asked, "You were so serious just a couple of days ago..."

"It's like this." Li Ying, who was reading a novel with her head down, seriously said, "Strike while the iron is hot, it weakens the next time, and is exhausted the third time. It's the third day of school, so of course, all the enthusiasm is gone."

"No." Qin Yueshi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Where do you think danger is most likely to arise within the academy?"

"Where? Of course, it's over there!" Li Ying pointed towards the back, and Qin Yueshi turned to look, seeing a large group of people gathered around a pretty, adorable girl with a blue hair accessory. Next to her sat a small, young boy with bronze skin.

"That's..."

"Ming Dailan, one of the seven Radiant Celestial Maidens," Li Ying said knowingly, "It's said that she's the prettiest and most attractive among the seven Celestial Maidens, I have no doubt that someone will end up dueling to the death over her sooner or later."

"Radiant Celestial Maiden?" Qin Yueshi was taken aback.

"Yes, ever since Sister Shuangli announced that all seven Radiant Emperor candidates are in the academy, everyone quickly found them all—actually, it wasn't hard to find because they all live in the same dormitory. Since they all have a chance at becoming Emperor, everyone started calling them Celestial Maidens."

Li Ying lay on the table eating a lemon, "If only I were one of the Celestial Maidens—to have a crystal palace right in the academy, the head of Tianhui would accompany me to lunch, the captain of the Blade Speed team would go on dates with me in the afternoon, and I'd discuss state affairs with the student council president in the evening... wow..."

"Stop, you're drooling." Kui Nianruo reached out and patted Li Ying's face.

Although Li Ying was joking, it made Qin Yueshi realize where the real crisis within the academy lay—the seven Emperor candidates!

What could be more dangerous than the struggle for the throne?

The reason big brother infiltrated the Imperial Academy at this time must be to intervene in the Imperial Family's war!

This perfectly aligns with Qin Yueshi's understanding of Qin Le Yin: if successful, he'll rise to prominence; if he fails, he'll lose his head!

With this realization, Qin Yueshi no longer hesitated and asked, "Are you guys planning to attend the elective trial class on 'The Fall of the Silver Blood' this afternoon?"

"Not interested," Li Ying said, "Since there's no class this afternoon, I'm going back to sleep."

"I'm planning to attend another trial class," Kui Nianruo said apologetically, "I'm more interested in 'The Vengeful Intuition of the Wolf Eagle Fist'."

"I'm interested."

Qian Yuya, sitting in front, turned around and said, "I find both the Dongyang District and Jing Zhengwei fascinating."

"Jing Zhengwei?" Qin Yueshi was taken aback: "Do you know him, Sister Qian?"

Qian Yuya shook her head, "He knows me, I don't know him."