"The competition in your Imperial College’s monthly exams is certainly intense."
In a pavilion not far away, a tall, slender figure stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His voice was nonchalant, betraying no emotion.
Feng Zhang frowned, clearly not expecting Murong Ye to be so blatant.
"You must be amused, Princely Heir." He cupped his hands. "They’re in their teens, an age of pride and vigor. Besides, Murong Ye has always been fiercely competitive. He used to be number one, so he must have felt threatened this ti to resort to such a low move."
There was no explicit rule against teaming up in the monthly exams, so Murong Ye’s actions couldn’t exactly be faulted.
Still, anyone watching would feel his victory was unsportsmanlike.
"A threat?" Shen Yanchuan’s eyebrow arched slightly. "You an, Ye Yunfeng?"
"You know of him?"
Feng Zhang was a little surprised, but then he recalled sothing and laughed.
"Right, I almost forgot. You and his older sister have quite the connection."
He had heard the rumors that Shen Yanchuan had been injured before returning to the capital and was saved by Ye Chutang. On top of that, she was the one who treated the Eldest Princess during her recent sudden illness. It was only natural that Shen Yanchuan would know Ye Yunfeng.
"Yes, that’s him!" As Feng Zhang spoke, his eyes filled with unconcealable admiration. "You weren’t here for the first round this morning. Don’t be fooled by his age—he’s only twelve or thirteen—but he is exceptionally talented in archery. He beat Murong Ye with just two arrows!"
Feng Zhang had seen countless capable people, so for him to offer such high praise, it spoke volus about Ye Yunfeng’s talent.
"I asked him who he learned from, and he said it was his older brother. As far as I know, his older brother died in that accident three years ago. For his Imperial Archery skills to still be so outstanding after three years is truly remarkable."
Shen Yanchuan’s fingers tapped lightly as he asked casually, "Is that what he said?"
"Yes!" Feng Zhang nodded. "And that’s not all. I think his temperant is excellent as well. Despite his incredible archery skills, he’s quite low-key and modest. If Murong Ye hadn’t provoked him ti and again, I doubt he would have even accepted the challenge."
Otherwise, the Eldest Princess wouldn’t have specifically sent soone over to say the brothers were unskilled in Imperial Archery and ask him for his tutelage.
If this was considered ’unskilled,’ then what did that make everyone else?
Shen Yanchuan nodded and lifted his gaze forward.
SWOOSH—THWACK!
In that brief mont, the field had descended into a chaotic lee.
Murong Ye led two others to block Ye Yunfeng’s path, trapping him in place. They constantly disrupted his concentration and line of sight, making it difficult for him to accurately aim at the moving targets.
Several other students noticed the situation but didn’t step forward to help.
’Murong Ye is dead set on reclaiming his pride. Siding with Ye Yunfeng now would be openly defying him.’
’Ye Yunfeng’s performance this morning was excellent, but his background is nothing compared to Murong Ye’s.’
’Even a fool knows who to side with.’
Qiao Zimo watched anxiously from the sidelines. "Murong Ye is going too far! If ti runs out and Yun Feng hasn’t hit a single target, his score for this round will be ranked last!"
Ye Jingyan, however, was much calr. He said gently, "It’s not over yet. The outco is still uncertain."
Qiao Zimo sighed helplessly. "Ugh! With his temper, if he gets upset and causes a scene, the consequences will be even worse! He might even be sent ho for self-reflection!"
’Murong Ye is trying to corner him no matter what he does!’
But Ye Jingyan shook his head. "He won’t. A Feng knows what he’s doing."
Qiao Zimo looked up and was stunned to see Ye Yunfeng on the field, holding his bow in one hand and loosely gripping the reins with the other, circling calmly in place.
The roguish, untad air about him was still pronounced, yet there was not a hint of anxiety on his face.
"This..." Qiao Zimo was taken aback.
’After spending the last few days with him, I always thought Ye Yunfeng had a fiery, straightforward temper. But looking at him now, it seems I was wrong...’
Ye Jingyan watched the field quietly. "Our sister used to say that when dealing with prey, you must have sufficient patience."
Qiao Zimo was completely confused. Before he could say anything, he saw Murong Ye on the field raise the longbow in his hands!
He probably thought that Ye Yunfeng was trapped and helpless, and it was ti for him to get his own score.
He drew an arrow and pulled the bowstring taut.
SWOOSH—CLANG!
Just as the arrow flew out, another one suddenly shot in from the side, striking it right on the arrowhead!
With the impact, Murong Ye’s arrow was knocked off course and plunged diagonally into the ground!
Murong Ye was stunned. When he realized what had happened, he whipped his head around, absolutely furious. "You!"
While he wasn’t looking, Ye Yunfeng had actually broken through the other two’s encirclent to fire an arrow. Though he shot second, his arrow arrived first, intercepting the one that would have surely hit the bullseye!
Ye Yunfeng lowered his longbow and gave an innocent smile.
"Ah, my apologies. My shot went wide."
’You want to leave with no score? Well... why don’t we both get nothing!’
"If you don’t hit a target, you’re dead last, right?" Ye Yunfeng slowly drew a second arrow from his back and tilted his head. "I already took first place this morning, anyway. Trying out last place doesn’t sound so bad, does it?"
He jutted his chin at Murong Ye in a taunting invitation. "Co on!"
Murong Ye trembled with rage.
’This Ye Yunfeng—he’s a complete madman!’
...
The corners of Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved up slightly.
"That personality of his is really..."
Lian Zhou, standing behind him, silently glanced at his master.
’Why does his tone sound like he’s actually complinting him?’
’No wonder Doctor Ye sent the brothers to the Imperial College without a second thought. So what if they enrolled halfway through the term? So what if they have no background? With an attitude like that—who could possibly bully them?’
Feng Zhang laughed heartily. "Good kid! I knew he wasn’t the type to just sit back and be bullied!"
Suddenly, Shen Yanchuan’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
On the field, Murong Ye was livid with rage at Ye Yunfeng.
He stared daggers at Ye Yunfeng, his jaw clenched and the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
’I was going to get my honor back in this round, but I never expected—’
’If I lose to Ye Yunfeng again, I’ll be too disgraced to show my face here anymore!’
’A lowly creature like him actually dared to dream of competing with for first place? He truly doesn’t know his place!’
A naless fire surged through him, burning away all of Murong Ye’s reason.
He suddenly raised his bow and aid the arrowhead at Ye Yunfeng!
Ye Jingyan’s heart leaped. "A Feng, look out!"
Before his voice had even faded, the arrow shot out, flying straight for Ye Yunfeng!
The assistant teachers and students at the edge of the field all broke into an uproar—
But Ye Yunfeng’s reflexes were incredibly fast. Sensing the cold rush of air, he tilted his head slightly, made an instant judgnt, and leaned his torso back with lightning speed!
CRACK—THUD!
The arrow grazed past Ye Yunfeng and embedded itself in the ground, its fletching quivering.
Ye Yunfeng straightened up, but instead of checking himself for injuries, he quickly glanced down at the longbow in his hand. His face instantly turned cold, and the air around him seed to drop to a freezing point.
—His bow was broken!
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