Testing the waters

Lin Shuguang had only just arrived in the classroom when Xu Jie threw his arms around him.

Before he could shove the fellow's head away in disgust, Xu Jie said, his face brimming with gossip, "Old Fu's in the hospital! Apparently, he ran into a demonic cultivator on the way, at that abandoned construction site on Longhu Road. Come to think of it, that's pretty close to your place... so did you hear anything around your house last night?"

Lin Shuguang's hand paused.

Coming back to his senses, he answered without giving anything away, "No."

Xu Jie rubbed his chin. "They probably suppressed the news. I heard from the senior disciples that even the Special Management Bureau got involved... makes sense, though. Old Fu's a Martial Artist, after all. When a Martial Artist gets attacked, a national killing machine like that is bound to show up."

A strange look flickered through Lin Shuguang's eyes. Changing the subject, he asked, "How's Old Fu doing?"

Xu Jie told him everything he knew. "His life isn't in danger, but he'll definitely be laid up for a while. Oh, right, Old Lin, here's something crazy. Remember how I told you a while ago that a genius joined my Martial Arts Hall?"

Lin Shuguang sat down in his seat and said casually, "I remember. What about him?"

Xu Jie sat down right after him, looking amazed. "He's been at our Martial Arts Hall for less than half a month, and he's already learned a Killing Technique."

Lin Shuguang asked with a peculiar look, "...Are Killing Techniques hard to learn?"

Xu Jie's expression grew exaggerated. "Of course they are! Killing Techniques need enormous amounts of blood energy to support them. It's like the relationship between a needle and thread, but threading a needle takes skill. I heard the senior disciples say that even the fastest of them took three months to learn that Killing Technique. They all say that Ye Tianhao is a freak."

"That's pretty impressive," Lin Shuguang agreed.

If Xu Jie knew he could learn a Killing Technique with just a thought, his jaw would probably drop to the floor in shock.

Xu Jie leaned over again, looking secretive. "I heard from a senior disciple at the hall that this year's College Entrance Examination is going to be fiercely competitive. Never mind that Ye Tianhao is our age, quite a few older students who deferred their exams for several years are coming back this year, too. Damn it, those people just want to use their deferral period to get the bonus points for being Martial Arts Apprentices... I'm jealous."

"You can defer the exam?" Lin Shuguang raised an eyebrow.

"Of course, but there are conditions. They take an assessment in their first year, and only those who meet the minimum admission requirements for a Martial Arts School can apply for a deferral. There are six in our Martial Arts Hall alone. Hiss, people will probably fight tooth and nail over this year's Martial Arts School places... the admission cutoff might even go up.

"Fuck, I hate this!

"I curse them all to get diarrhea on exam day!"

"Isn't there direct admission for Martial Artists, too?"

Lin Shuguang's matter-of-fact tone left Xu Jie speechless on the spot. "Bro, my dear brother! Do you think becoming a Martial Artist is that easy? You can only defer for five years at most. Becoming a Martial Artist in five years without relying on a Martial Arts School? That's just..."

Suddenly, Xu Jie paused and said doubtfully, "Wait, there are people like that. I heard a senior disciple at the Martial Arts Hall mention them, but I was so stunned at the time that I didn't remember much... anyway, people like that are incredibly rare!"

Lin Shuguang looked thoughtful.

Since Old Fu had been injured and hospitalized, a teacher from the neighboring class took over his lessons.

For the students, however, this changed nothing about their school lives.

Near the end of school, Xu Jie nudged Lin Shuguang's arm. "Old Lin, why do I feel like the class leader's watching us?"

"Is she?" Lin Shuguang looked up, but Song Wan had already withdrawn her gaze.

Xu Jie whispered, "Do you think she's secretly recording everyone's behavior so she can hand it over to Old Fu when he comes back? Holy shit, that's vicious."

Lin Shuguang was speechless. "Do you have a persecution complex?"

Xu Jie whispered, "Isn't that exactly the kind of crap some class officers love doing?"

Lin Shuguang smiled casually.

In fact, Song Wan had thought about it all night. If her teacher hadn't broken through her Wind Wall so easily, she wouldn't have drawn such a strong connection to Lin Shuguang.

Even now, she still couldn't be certain whether what had happened yesterday morning...

Had been because of her own carelessness, or because Lin Shuguang really had concealed his strength.

If it was the latter... just how strong was he?

Didn't he only have a Blood Energy Value of 9 Ka?

Had he eaten some Heavenly Treasure that could increase his strength?

Countless questions filled Song Wan's mind.

Little did she know that the ever-sensitive Xu Jie had noticed her repeated stolen glances.

Lin Shuguang, however, paid Song Wan no mind. His head was full of the assessments beginning next month.

At his current cultivation speed, he naturally had nothing to worry about with the Martial Arts Apprentice assessment.

But what Lin Shuguang wanted to apply for was the Martial Artist Exam.

Compared with the bonus points for being a Martial Arts Apprentice, direct admission for Martial Artists appealed to him even more.

The final school bell rang.

Lin Shuguang and Xu Jie packed up to leave, and Song Wan hurried to pack her things as well. She had made up her mind to test Lin Shuguang's true strength today.

"Class leader, the math teacher wants you in his office."

"Got it. I'm coming." Inwardly vexed, Song Wan helplessly glanced back at Lin Shuguang, who was packing his schoolbag, then quickly left the classroom.

"Holy crap, Old Lin, this is so weird. The class leader just looked at us again!" Xu Jie's eyes widened as though he had seen a ghost.

Lin Shuguang was taken aback.

By the time he looked up, Song Wan had already rushed out of the classroom, so he thought nothing of it.

Xu Jie stuffed his textbooks haphazardly into his schoolbag and called out, "Old Lin, want to come to the bathroom?"

Lin Shuguang refused on the spot.

"Are we brothers or not? Just tell me, are we brothers or not!"

"Bro, I'm calling you my own dear brother here. Come with me. I'm scared to go alone..."

Xu Jie's string of shameless nonsense made the veins on Lin Shuguang's forehead bulge.

In the end, he compromised and waited by the stairs.

"Old Lin! Old Lin-"

Xu Jie's shouts came from the bathroom.

"Speak!" Lin Shuguang kept it brief.

Xu Jie chuckled stupidly. "Just checking you're still there."

Lin Shuguang's face darkened. "..."

Fucking moron!

Having just come out of the math teacher's office, Song Wan was still annoyed that she had missed a good chance to test Lin Shuguang.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she came down from the fourth floor, she spotted Lin Shuguang by the stairs below, looking at the scenery.

Her eyes lit up. A perfect opportunity.

Her Soul Ring flashed,

And she immediately formed hand seals.

To avoid hurting any passing students, Song Wan thoughtfully placed the Wind Wall near the bathroom.

The next second.

The Wind Wall sprang into being!

It descended silently like a cage!

Clang!

But something unexpected happened.

Xu Jie, who had been about to surprise Lin Shuguang, ran headfirst into it and fell onto his backside. He clutched his head, utterly bewildered.

He looked at Lin Shuguang.

Lin Shuguang looked back at him in astonishment.

"Fuck! Again? This again?!"

Xu Jie flew into a humiliated rage.

He stood up, clutching his forehead, and glared fiercely around him.

He had been ambushed yesterday morning, and now that fellow had shown up again today!

This was going too far!

"Who's there? Come out! What's so impressive about hiding and ambushing people? If you've got the guts, come fight me to the death on the rooftop!"

Song Wan came down the stairs.

She was just about to apologize.

When Xu Jie saw her appear, he walked straight over, his face filled with righteous indignation. "Class leader, someone's walking all over Class Three! This is a disgrace to our class! We can't let him get away with it! You have to help me!"

Song Wan looked awkward. After a moment's thought, she said, "Xu Jie, actually..."

Xu Jie suddenly ran to the stairwell on one side.

He searched all around but found nothing.

He immediately began cursing furiously. "You little bastard! Just wait till Daddy catches you!"

Song Wan's pretty face darkened, and she swallowed the apology she had been about to offer.

She had intended to test Lin Shuguang, but who could have known this clumsy fool would charge into it himself?

And he actually, actually dared?!

Seeing the unfriendly look flash through Song Wan's eyes, Xu Jie assumed she was unhappy about someone repeatedly provoking them. He immediately felt as though he had someone backing him up.

"Class leader, if you catch him, let me know. I'll beat that bastard to death!"

Without a word, Song Wan turned and left.

A fierce wind seemed to howl through the corridor, cold and biting...

Xu Jie scratched his head and looked at Lin Shuguang. "Why did the class leader leave?"

Lin Shuguang shrugged. "Maybe... she went to get revenge for you."

Xu Jie's eyes lit up. "The class leader really looks out for us. Oh, right, Old Lin, want to come over this weekend? I bought a new game cartridge. The content's pretty spicy."

Lin Shuguang glanced at the sky. "No, I've been pretty busy lately."

"You're no fun. Why do you keep turning me down whenever I ask you out lately? Are you secretly dating some girl behind my back? Then I'll come to your place. I haven't seen Xiao Xi in ages..."

"She doesn't want to see you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I said so."

"...Holy shit, a sister complex???"