The General's Court

Jin Jianyu stepped out of Hongxi Academy with Wei Yue rushing up to his side. They headed down the main road, which was now littered with students and shop owners hoping to lure them in.

Wei Yue and Jin Jianyu must have passed at least 20 shops while heading towards General Wei's palace.

They passed shop after shop. As they did, the other sect members stared in disbelief as this was the first time seeing Wei Yue walk home with someone other than Wei Cheng!

"Is that Wei Yue? Who is she walking with?"

"Perhaps a new interest?"

"I've never seen them in the outer sect before."

"Shh! That's Jin Jianyu!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Nope."

"No way."

"If that's Jin Jianyu, then I am Emperor Hong!"

"..."

"No, it is! I was in class and heard him say it!"

"How can that possibly be Jin Jianyu? Jin Jianyu face always looked like he was stung by fifty red bees. This individual has an air of nobility and elegance, even beyond Wei Yue herself! It's like comparing day and night!"

"Also, there is no way, my beautiful queen, Wei Yue would dare walk with someone like Jin Jianyu!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

At this very moment a very stupid face was being made in Jin Jiayu's mind as he overheard the comments, but he kept composed, his face showing no signs of the immense pleasure surging through his veins.

Upon reaching the palace Jin Jianyu and Wei Yue was greeted by two slatted gate doors, above the gate door were the words "Wei" indicating that this was the Wei Family's palace.

"We're here." Wei Yue said, walking up to the two doors. As she approached two guards greeted her and opened each gate. Welcoming her home.

"Welcome Home Little Yue."

"Happy Birthday Little Yue."

Jin Jianyu felt that this was a little over the top, but for Wei Yue, she expected it. He followed after Wei Yue, the guards nodding as he passed.

「 Quest Two: 20 hours left. 」

Wei Yue and Jin Jianyu entered the courtyard of the palace. As they entered, Jin Jianyu took a good look at his surroundings, hoping to find the dining hall to finish his quest early.

Each step Wei Yue and Jin Jianyu took was another happy birthday, or formal greeting. Jin Jianyu recognized a few of the top members of the school and outer sect standing around the courtyard.

General Wei watched the two from the side of the courtyard in the shade. He always wanted a girl. So when the gods delivered Wei Yue he doted on her day and night, and today was no different.

This year Wei Yue would become an inner sect disciple, she would live within the inner sect, and he would see her less! So he wanted her to remember this birthday most of all.

So when General Wei saw a young man by her side, he had but one question bouncing around his mind 'Who is this young man by my Little Yue's side?'

Jin Jianyu noticed General Wei staring in his direction, this made him feel uncomfortable, so he decided to head towards the dining hall.

Wei Yue panicked as she noticed Jin Jianyu started to walk away. Wei Yue wanted to expose him as soon as they arrived, but now she was trapped in a conversation! 'Just you wait...'

Jin Jianyu stepped into the dining hall. It was as large as a sports field lined with tables. Large enough to fit an army's worth of people.

「 Quest Three: 30 minutes left. 」

'These timed quests are going to be the death of me.' Jin Jianyu thought.

'Jackpot!' Jin Jianyu thought as he found the cake unattended.

Jin Jianyu casually walked over to the unattended cake and shoved his fingers right into the side of the cake.

Jin Jianyu began to shamelessly lap at his fingers. Coating his mouth with icing, his eyes rolling backward, his face displaying the look of pure ecstasy. "Ehehehe. So good!"

"You...!"

Jin Jianyu snapped his head around at the high pitched sound, fingers still in his mouth.

Wei Yue stomped forcefully towards him.

"What have you done to my cake!" Anger flashed in Wei Yue's eyes. "Answer me now!"

Jin Jianyu froze as he heard that horrible sound ringing in his ears.

「 Quest Complete: Eat a piece of Three Mountains Velvet Ice Cake at Wei Yue's party. 」

Jin Jianyu thought quickly and threw all his eggs in a single basket. Jin Jianyu slid the last finger from his mouth, preparing to begin his ultimate performance.

「 Quest Reward: Ability - Martial Insight - Level 1 」

He began just as the window came up like a reflection in a pond.

"Just as I thought... The cake..." Jin Jianyu slurred as he lost his balance and doubling over in pain. "was poisoned..."

Wei Yue's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. Was she supposed to believe such a shameful display? She didn't believe a single word out of this stranger's mouth.

Wei Yue started to walk over when she realized Jin Jianyu wasn't moving. His face was genuinely purple. 'Was the cake really... poisoned?'

"Hey! You!" Wei Yue shouted as she reached down and began to slap Jin Jianyu's face. "Stop this shameful display! I know you're just acting! I have to expose you!"

Jin Jianyu found it to be harder and harder to hold his breath. Each slap tested his dedication to his plan. Jin Jiayu continued to act as though it was poison when really the pain came from the system bombing his mind with information.

Jin Jianyu started to feel the world around him begin to fade the more he had to focus on the information being shoved into his mind.

Jin Jianyu found it very difficult to keep up as phrases and actions he didn't know continued to stream line by line deep into the corners of his mind.

'It's almost over... If I can hold on just a little more...'

As the last piece of information imprinted on Jin Jianyu's mind, he felt the world go dark.

The last thing he heard was Wei Yue as she rushed out of the dining hall to get help.