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"Haha, Director Lin, please come in. Let's talk as we walk."
Liu Qingshan enthusiastically led Lin Zhennan into the school, completely ignoring Zhang Tiancheng and Shen Congwu.
Why?
These two principals were 180% there to poach students.
This was a common tactic used by prestigious high schools like theirs.
They scoured the country for top students before the national martial arts exam, then basked in glory when results were released.
Meanwhile, schools whose students had been poached continued to decline as the Bureau of Education cut their funding.
After all, academic performance was the Education Bureau's primary criterion for allocating resources.
Zhang Tiancheng's expression darkened, and he muttered a curse under his breath.
"It's just good luck that a genius emerged here, a hidden gem in a ditch."
Shen Congwu glanced at him. "Don't talk nonsense. Director Lin values Ling Qingxue highly. Your attitude might anger him. Besides, Ling Qingxue's talent is indeed high; even in my Lingtian Middle School, she'd rank in the top three. She's worth a hefty price!"
Ling Qingxue's ability to gain such a reputation in a backwater like Linjiang City undoubtedly demonstrated her exceptional martial arts talent.
Being only at the Second Rank early-stage, she could already defeat Second Rank late-stage martial artists. With a final three and a half months of intensive training, she's highly likely to break through to the Second Rank peak, at which point she could rival Third Rank martial artists, giving her a great chance of getting into one of the top three martial arts universities in the country!
In other words, Ling Qingxue was worth at least several hundred million!
Zhang Tiancheng sneered. "This time I've come prepared. You can't beat me!"
With that, he walked towards Linjiang Middle School on his own.
Some students were already used to this scene.
After all, Ling Qingxue had given them too many shocks; even Qingshan Martial Arts University had given her an S-level admission letter.
"Our School Beauty Ling is amazing! I heard that every year, two or three students from Nanhua Middle School get into the top three martial arts universities, and twenty or thirty get into the top ten. If School Beauty Ling went to Nanhua Middle School, she might really have a chance to get into Beiming Martial Arts University!"
"Bullshit! School Beauty Ling is definitely not that kind of person!"
"Heh, is loyalty more important, or the path of martial arts? Who would give up a better opportunity?"
"I still believe School Beauty Ling isn't an ungrateful person. Even at Linjiang Middle School, School Beauty Ling could still get into Beiming Martial Arts University!"
…
In the meeting room, Liu Qingshan personally served Lin Zhennan a glass of water, completely ignoring the other two.
This differential treatment made Zhang Tiancheng's face contort with anger.
But in order to achieve his goal of poaching Ling Qingxue, he could only endure.
Lin Zhennan looked around. "Principal Liu, isn't Ling Qingxue at school right now?"
"Director Lin, your timing is terrible. Qingxue went to train in the low-level secret place of the City Lord's Mansion. She probably won't be back for a few days. If you had told me in advance, I would have let her go a few days later."
Lin Zhennan's expression immediately turned serious.
"That won't do. Every minute of Ling Qingxue's time is precious. How can I let her wait for me? I should be waiting for her. I'll stay with you for a few days this time, and I'll send someone to install the Virtual Heavenly Mirror at Linjiang Middle School."
Liu Qingshan grinned widely. "Thank you for your understanding, Director Lin. It's thanks to responsible directors like you that our Nanchuan Province martial arts exam results have improved year after year!"
Zhang Tiancheng and Shen Congwu cursed him inwardly as a sycophant.
Then, Zhang Tiancheng seized the opportunity.
"Principal Liu, please don't blame me for being harsh..."
Liu Qingshan glared at him. "If you know your words are harsh, then don't say them!"
Zhang Tiancheng's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot, his teeth almost grinding to powder.
If it weren't for Lin Zhennan, he would have been in a serious fight with Liu Qingshan!
"No matter how harsh it is, I still have to say it!"
"Linjiang Middle School's educational resources are insufficient to nurture Ling Qingxue. If she transfers to Nanhua Middle School, getting into one of the top three martial arts universities is a sure thing. Nanhua Middle School has complete confidence in unlocking her potential!"
At that, Liu Qingshan instantly transformed into a furious lion.
"Zhang Tiancheng, you fucking get the hell out of here! If you dare say another word, I'll make you regret it!"
Ling Qingxue was his lifeline now; if anyone dared to take her away, he'd fight them to the death.
He had painstakingly cultivated this genius for years, and now they were trying to snatch her away before the martial arts entrance exam? What's the difference between that and shitting on his head? Liu Qingshan's outburst startled the other three people in the conference room.
Shen Congwu hesitated to speak, but giving up so easily was out of the question.
Years of experience poaching students had thickened his skin.
Afraid of being scolded?
Could he still poach good students this way?
A few scoldings won't kill you. Let him scold you all he wants, then let me take the student away. Shen Congwu would still be the winner.
Liu Qingshan suppressed his anger and looked at Lin Zhennan, his face grim.
"Director Lin, are you going to do anything about this? Is there no law? They're poaching students at a time like this, don't they have any sense of reason?!"
Lin Zhennan was somewhat helpless, and he could only give those two a stern look.
"Principal Liu, as long as the transfer is legal and compliant, the Education Bureau can't interfere in the affairs between your various high schools. Everything still depends on Ling Qingxue's wishes."
Zhang Tiancheng and Shen Congwu didn't even hide their smugness.
"Principal Liu, we know you're angry, but it's all for the sake of Nanchuan Province achieving better results this year. Our Nanhua Middle School has ample resources: top-tier teachers provide 24/7 instruction, free instruction in basic cultivation techniques, and a large supply of pills and spiritual medicines. If you truly care about Ling Qingxue, you should let go."
"Let go, my ass!" Liu Qingshan roared.
Zhang Tiancheng almost lost his composure. Every third word was a curse…
He'd only been there a short while and had already been cursed countless times.
Under Liu Qingshan's murderous glare, Shen Congwu pulled out a contract and handed it over.
"Principal Liu, I know your Linjiang Middle School has been declining for the past ten years or so and urgently needs a genius to turn things around, in order to secure more resources and contribute more talent to Nanchuan Province. I have a proposal here for you to look at; whether you agree or not, I can accept either outcome."
Liu Qingshan frowned, his gaze sweeping over the large characters on the contract.
[Exchange Student...]
"You want Qingxue to go to your school as an exchange student?"
Exchange students didn't directly enroll in Lingtian Middle School; they attended as students, but their registration remained with Linjiang Middle School.
In other words, Ling Qingxue was a student of Linjiang Middle School from beginning to end, and the final benefits also belonged to Linjiang Middle School.
Shen Congwu smiled, stood up, and personally spread the contract out in front of Liu Qingshan.
"I am the principal of Lingtian Middle School, but I am also a teacher who educates and nurtures students. How could I bear to let a genius be buried? This is not a denial of your abilities, Principal Liu!
On the contrary, the fact that you cultivated such an outstanding student in this environment further demonstrates your teaching level!
I, Shen Congwu, admire Principal Liu, which is why I specifically drafted this exchange student contract before coming here. I hope that Ling Qingxue can study at my Lingtian Middle School before the National Martial Arts Examination, so that we, the two high schools, can combine our strengths to help her achieve excellent results!
Principal Liu, you were the guide for the first half of Ling Qingxue's journey, and I, Shen Congwu, hope to contribute my share for the second half!"