Chapter 269: Don’t Cry When the Time Comes
The next day was the Four Kingdoms Youth Formation Master Competition.
Representing Chu State in this formation master competition were Zhang Ruohua, Wen Yuanqian, Li Wenhao, Mai Wei, He Jingfeng, Yu Chonghua, and Fang Guide, and of course, there was also Old Master Tang’s disciple.
Shen Xingnong arrived at the competition venue early in the morning. She sat in the seat reserved between Old Master Tang, Old Master Xu, and Chu Tiankuo, and respectfully greeted, “Master, Senior Martial Brother.”
Then she smiled and greeted Wen Yuanqian and the others, introducing herself, “Hello everyone, I am Shen Xingnong.”
Seeing Shen Xingnong’s good complexion, Chu Tiankuo knew she had slept well last night and simply asked, “Did you eat enough for breakfast?”
Today’s competition would take a long time, so he had specifically reminded her to eat more last night.
Shen Xingnong nodded. “Yes, I had an extra bowl of porridge.”
Wen Yuanqian and the others were surprised. Wasn’t Old Master Tang’s disciple a man? How could she be the Jin Kingdom Princess?
The person who helped them out that day and taught them formations was clearly a man!
At this time, Old Master Tang asked in surprise, “Why did you come so early?”
There were still two quarters of an hour before the competition began.
Old Master Tang thought she would only appear when the competition started. After all, this girl always arrived at his place just in time, left just in time, and practiced irregularly. He even gave her silver, but she was unwilling to go more often!
Everyone: “. . .”
The competition was about to start, and the formation master teams from the four kingdoms had been studying together for several days for the team competition. She arrived half an hour before the competition, and Old Master Tang still said it was early?
Zhang Ruohua was almost angered to laughter. She smiled sarcastically and said, “Princess Xingnong is a busy person with many matters to attend to, yet she still condescends to arrive two quarters of an hour early. It’s truly admirable.”
The magic of language is that the same words, spoken in different situations and with different tones, can have different meanings.
Shen Xingnong glanced at her and said calmly, “As long as you can win, what does it matter if you arrive early or late? Miss Zhang, you arrived so early, are you preparing to take first place and bring glory to Chu State?”
With the Jin Kingdom Princess participating in the competition, and so many other powerful formation masters from other countries, how could she possibly get first place?!
Her goal was simply to be able to enter the top ten.
She knew she couldn’t get first place, yet she was still mocking her!
Zhang Ruohua laughed. “. . . I don’t dare to think about first place. I have no strength, so I came early. Princess Xingnong is so confident, you will definitely get first place this time and bring glory to our Chu State! Congratulations in advance.”
Shen Xingnong: “Thank you.”
Zhang Ruohua: “. . .”
Does she still want face? Does she really think she can get first place?
Zhang Ruohua glanced at Old Master Tang. His disciple was so arrogant and conceited, wouldn’t he discipline her?
Wouldn’t it be Chu State’s face that would be lost? After all, the formation masters from Yan State and Jin State were sitting nearby.
Old Master Tang didn’t say anything. His disciple was here to take first place! Someone blessed her, she politely said thank you, what’s the problem?
Shen Xingnong didn’t want to talk to her anymore, it was pointless.
Chu Tiankuo saw Shen Xingnong’s impatience and looked at Zhang Ruohua indifferently. “Quiet.”
Zhang Ruohua: “. . .”
✿✿✿
Wen Yuanqian and the others thought about how the Jin Kingdom Princess was the Chu Kingdom Crown Princess, and then they thought about how Old Master Tang’s disciple was close to the Crown Prince at that time. They realized that Shen Xingnong had been disguised as a man back then!
They all admired Shen Xingnong very much. After all, it was thanks to her that they were able to participate in this Youth Formation Master Competition.
Moreover, during this time, whenever they had any questions about formations, they would send letters to Welcome Guest Restaurant or Welcome Inn, and they would always receive replies from Shen Xingnong. Their progress in formations had been significant.
So everyone took out their formation design drawings and handed them to Shen Xingnong. “Princess Xingnong, do you have time to help me take a look at my formation?”
“And mine!”
Shen Xingnong smiled and said, “I’ve already seen them all.”
Everyone: “. . .”
When did she see them?
Chu Tiankuo then said, “I showed them to her. The previous modification suggestions were all made by her.”
Everyone was overjoyed. So it was Princess Xingnong who had helped them modify their formations. Then in this individual competition, they would definitely be able to get good scores! They didn’t dare to think about the top ten, but as long as they weren’t at the bottom, it would be fine.
They then thought about the team competition. They didn’t dare to think about getting a ranking in the individual competition, but in the team competition, with Shen Xingnong participating, they felt that they couldn’t hold her back.
Deng Wenyuan was the first to speak. “We still have some time now. Princess Xingnong, please tell us about the arrangements for the team competition. I will listen to you completely!”
Li Wenhao: “Princess Xingnong, do you have any thoughts on the team competition? Please tell us in advance, we will all listen to you!”
“Princess Xingnong, I will also listen to your arrangements. Please feel free to instruct! I will do as you say!”
Zhang Ruohua was unhappy when she heard this. She was the team leader, what did they mean by this?
She said, “Didn’t we agree that I would lead the team when I talked about the team competition just now?”
Deng Wenyuan: “Princess Xingnong wasn’t here at that time.”
Li Wenhao nodded. “That’s right, Princess Xingnong wasn’t here, so it didn’t matter who led the team.”
Mai Wei: “Now that Princess Xingnong is here, of course she should lead the team. Whose formations here are better than hers?!”
Others: “Does that even need to be said? Of course Princess Xingnong should lead the team! In the preliminary competition, your ranking was behind all of us, how can you lead the team well?”
Before they set off for Jin State, Old Master Tang’s disciple hadn’t appeared, and even Old Master Tang arrived halfway. Everyone was uncertain whether Shen Xingnong would participate in the Youth Formation Master Competition. So when Zhang Ruohua introduced herself and asked who would be the team leader, Fang Guide said that she was the only woman in the team, so let her be the leader!
Although everyone didn’t care about the team leader during the formation master competition at that time, after all, the leader they admired in their hearts hadn’t appeared, and they had no requirements for the leader! They themselves weren’t interested in being the leader, so it didn’t matter who it was!
But now it was different!
Old Master Tang’s disciple had appeared, the Princess Xingnong who, in the preliminary competition, had only given them a little more than a quarter of an hour of guidance, and allowed them to win the qualification for this competition. Of course, Miss Shen Xingnong should be the team leader!
Zhang Ruohua’s face darkened. How could they do this to her! She had already formulated a plan for the team competition! Now they were going to let Shen Xingnong lead the team! Where would she put her face?
She looked at Old Master Tang. “Old Master Tang, who do you think should lead the team?”
She had been the team leader all this way, and Old Master Tang had no objections. He wouldn’t be biased towards Shen Xingnong, would he? This was chaos!
Old Master Tang was here as a judge this time. Seeing her on the verge of tears, and with formation masters from other countries already looking over, he didn’t want the Chu State formation masters to make a scene and lose face! Moreover, she had been taking care of the formation masters all this way, and even if she had no merit, she had put in the effort. It just so happened that she also needed a lesson, she didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth, and thought she was amazing, so let her run into a wall. “Since you were chosen before, then you should continue to be the team leader!”
Don’t cry when you lose face!
