Book 13: Chapter 76

He s.h.i.+ was dragged to the secret base. The secret base Su Xiao used for the contest preparation was just an unused room for storing miscellaneous equipment. Hong Jiu was the first person to solemnly introduce the room to Su Xiao, who solemnly introduced it to Wu Dayong, who solemnly introduced it to He s.h.i.+.

Once his freedom was returned, He s.h.i.+ fumed, Its not a contest of who has the biggest team; dragging me into it isnt going to help you.

Needless to say, the problem never crossed Su Xiaos mind. Nonetheless, problem solving wasnt his duty in the first place.

I know. There are seven subjects. I am taking on rites, arithmetic and martial arts. Wu Dayong is in charge of chariotry, calligraphy and music. You want to take part in archery?

You sure are good at delegating the right person for the right job.

Ehehe, too kind, too kind.

Wu Dayong said, Su Xiao, lets re-evaluate this. I can come in last place in calligraphy and music if were lucky, but chariotry? Ill fall to my death.

Dont be a chicken! The heavens do not abandon those who try. Practice. Sister Jin said I should be able to come to come in second to last place at the very least. See? Ive improved. There are still more than ten days!

Wu Dayong and He s.h.i.+ could only feel sorry for Jin Zhaoying. As a matter of fact, they imagined shed be punching the air right now.

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He s.h.i.+ sighed. What gives you the idea you can win when you dont excel at any of the seven subjects?

As self-proclaimed second smartest person in the room, Wu Dayong responded, Thats why youre here to strategize.

He s.h.i.+:

No thug would let their captive go without a fight. Hence, He s.h.i.+ caved in and opined, Frankly, the chances of this team winning the contest can be summed up in three words.

Su Xiao: Dreams come true?

Wu Dayong: In the bag?

He s.h.i.+ nodded. In your dreams.

Your att.i.tude stinks! I have three words for you, too: watch your leg!

He s.h.i.+ angrily stepped back to avoid Wu Dayong catching his injured leg and prepared to counter with a front kick, but Su Xiao pushed them back to stop them.

Stop. Feeling guilty, Su Xiao ma.s.saged He s.h.i.+s shoulders. Sir He, what shall we do, then?

Strategist He fumed, Thats more like it. Take a page from his book and learn what guilt is.

Wu Dayong decried, Show us what you got then, tough guy. Everyone can talk.

Fine. You two went wrong at the most fundamental level!

The two looked to each other in confusion.

Sounding is if he was lecturing children, He s.h.i.+ elaborated, Did it ever cross your mind that the contest is the entire cla.s.ss problem? Why does only a portion of the cla.s.s have to bear the responsibility? Doesnt twenty people a stronger force than three people?

Su Xiao raised a hand. The rule limits us to three partic.i.p.ants, though.

He s.h.i.+ gracefully smiled. But there are seven subjects.

Wu Dayong: Spit it out already.

Just as the two glaring at each other went to fight again, Su Xiao pulled them apart, not that it stopped them from throwing kicks at each other in the air.

s s ().o .

Im so mad that Ive forgotten what I was trying to say Right, there are seven subjects, but you dont need to win all seven to take first place, correct?

Oh! Wu Dayong licked his lips, then stoically asked, Youre suggesting we bribe the examiner?

Take a walk to the loo. Dip your head in there. Flush everything inside out so that you can replace it with more useful stuff.

Su Xiao: I get it now!

He s.h.i.+ smiled. There is hope yet.

We can get second place and poison first place so that we win first place!

You need stop being so imaginative! What I meant is that theres no need for one team to win seven events when we have so many people. Seeing the duos impressed but perplexed looks, He s.h.i.+ heaved a heavy breath. Other cla.s.ses gathered their best and are only sending their best team to compete, but theres no stipulation that limits how many teams a cla.s.s can register. Hence, we can take an unconventional approach. We can form several teams, each team focusing on their speciality. As long as each team can win in their respective events, the overall is ours.

Oooooh! Su Xiao and Wu Dayong nudged one of He s.h.i.+s shoulders each.

Fear not the thug but the smart thug.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, you look honest to a fault, but you sure can be evil.

Thats rich coming from someone who wanted to bribe examiners and someone who wanted to poison contestants! Stop complimenting me with negative connotations!

Hang on. Su Xiao stopped thumping He s.h.i.+s shoulder to pose as a thinker. What sort of teams should we form?

That is the key to this approach. We dont need to win all seven events. Know why?

Because bribing

Because poisoning

Because you only need to win four events to win the overall! At this point, He s.h.i.+ contemplated giving up on academic pursuits to learn martial arts so that he could kill the two morons. Winning four out of seven events nets us the overall. What reason is there to win all seven? Hence, we need to focus our strengths on winning four events.

Su Xiao and Wu Dayong: Oooooh! Best of seven! Yeah!

You sure you understand? We havent actually won yet

Su Xiao beamed. I know! That said, thanks to your idea, I feel we have a real chance of winning now! Im happy!

He s.h.i.+ shook his head vigorously, making sure he wasnt seeing things, then cleared his throat. Do you know who is most proficient in music at the academy?

Wu Dayong inflated his chest. Right here.

He s.h.i.+: Well, h.e.l.lo, Mr. Good at Nothing.

I meant I know!

Su Xiao clocked Wu Dayong over the head. Then just say who it is!

So mean Rubbing his head, Wu Dayong continued, s.h.i.+ Weiliang. Her family runs a restaurant. She only made it into the academy thanks to her music skills.

That makes things easy. Ming Feizhen and she are acquaintances. He should be able to persuade her to join us.

Cool. Wu Dayong turned to Su Xiao. By the way, where is Ol Ming? I havent seen him in a while.

Tied up.

He s.h.i.+ and Wu Dayong flinched.

Uh, I meant as in hes tied up with helping people outside the city, yeah.

He s.h.i.+ and Wu Dayong: Uhuh.

Th-thats not important right now! Lets go ask Miss s.h.i.+ to help us! Lets move! Lets move!