"Hmph, stop listening to their nonsense. Just now, a junior girl came to the class asking about you."
Chen Tong snorted.
"Junior girl?"
Su Ming was even more surprised. He didn't know any female students from the lower grades.
"She had short hair and was quite pretty. Think carefully."
The blond-haired boys said with grins.
Just as Su Ming was trying hard to remember, a timid voice sounded from the doorway.
"Um, excuse me, is Senior Su Ming here?"
"Oh, oh, he's here!"
The blond-haired boys began howling excitedly. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the junior girl had come to see them.
Su Ming immediately turned to look. A pretty girl with delicate features, bright eyes, short hair, and a blue school uniform stood shyly in the doorway, gazing uneasily at Su Ming and the others.
"It's you. What did you come looking for me about?"
Su Ming suddenly remembered who the girl was. Wasn't she the girl he had rescued in front of the female dormitory that day?
"Hello, Senior. I'm Li Menghan from Class 1 of the second-year Command Department. I came especially to thank you."
Li Menghan entered the classroom and bowed to Su Ming.
"You don't have to be so polite. It was what I should have done."
Su Ming waved his hand and replied indifferently.
"Senior, this is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it!"
Li Menghan picked up an exquisitely wrapped box and held it out to Su Ming.
"Wow, hurry up and take it."
"Take it!"
The blond-haired boys all began egging them on.
Seeing so many people making a fuss, Li Menghan's fair face flushed even redder. She lowered her head so far that she didn't dare look at Su Ming.
"Thank you. I'll accept it."
Seeing that Li Menghan looked as though she wanted to crawl into a crack in the floor, Su Ming accepted her token of appreciation.
"Goodbye, Senior!"
Once Su Ming accepted it, Li Menghan immediately said goodbye before turning and running out of the classroom.
"Su Ming, open it and take a look!"
"Yeah, let's see what the gift is."
The blond-haired boys eagerly crowded around him.
Just then, Tang Yan entered carrying a cardboard box. Seeing the noisy classroom, he sternly called out,
"What are you doing? What is all this noise? Get back to your seats."
When the blond-haired boys saw Teacher Tang Yan arrive, they hurried back to their seats.
Tang Yan carried the box to the podium and said to Minke,
"Minke, hand out the City Exam admission tickets."
"Okay!"
Minke came forward, carried the box down, and handed them out one by one.
As everyone looked at the admission tickets they had received, the smiles on their faces vanished, and they all grew tense.
Tomorrow was the day that would determine their fates.
Teacher Tang Yan cleared his throat and began speaking.
"Everyone, I'll briefly go over the precautions for tomorrow's City Exam. First, the location of your examination venue is marked on your admission ticket. Go and familiarize yourselves with the route ahead of time so you don't get lost tomorrow. The exam will last two days. The comprehensive exam will begin at eight tomorrow morning, and the minor-subject exam will begin at eight the morning after. Do not be late. Once you're late, you won't be allowed inside."
"Understood!"
Everyone answered in unison.
Su Ming glanced at the admission ticket in his hand. He had gotten lucky and been assigned to his own school.
Teacher Tang Yan's gaze swept over the many students again. He took a deep breath and gathered his emotions before speaking with deep feeling.
"There is no banquet that never ends. After the City Exam, we'll all go our separate ways. There isn't much your teacher can give you, so I'll send you off with a few final words. I hope they can help when you feel lost in the future. People's lives are rarely smooth and peaceful. We often encounter countless obstacles, but remember one thing: aside from life and death, nothing else is truly insurmountable. I hope you can face the City Exam with a normal state of mind. Don't be nervous. Do your very best."
"Teacher, the City Exam is a matter of life and death!"
The blond-haired boy couldn't help adding.
Hearing this, Tang Yan was rendered speechless. How could he not know that the City Exam was a matter of life and death? The problem was that he didn't want everyone to be overly tense.
Every year, countless students performed poorly on the spot because they lacked the mental fortitude.
Thus, he replied helplessly,
"That was just a metaphor. In short, don't be too nervous tomorrow. Give it your all and leave no regrets in life. Your teacher wishes you all bright futures and success in rising above yourselves!"
"Thank you, Teacher! We'll definitely succeed!"
Minke led the cheer.
Everyone was greatly encouraged and followed along.
"Very good. You're dismissed!"
Tang Yan raised his hand and waved, sending everyone away.
Everyone got up and left the school, going to locate their examination venues.
Tang Yan stood on the podium, silently watching every student leave.
The next morning.
The entire Thirteenth District was placed under a complete lockdown!
To prepare for the City Exam, all airspace except for public flight routes was closed.
Patrol guards were everywhere along the broad streets. At the same time, a volunteer vehicle had been stationed every few hundred meters. Any examinee in need could seek its assistance.
Meanwhile, announcements continuously echoed over the broadcasts.
"Dear residents, the Thirteenth District is welcoming a new round of City Exams. During the City Exam period, all unrelated personnel are requested to stay away from schools. The creation of high-decibel noise is prohibited..."
At that moment, a black hovercar with the license plate SK6888 sped toward Mient Junior Academy along the spacious road.
Inside the car, Zhang Tai had one foot propped against the back of the front passenger seat, reclining lazily.
Sitting beside him was a noblewoman with curly brown hair and fair skin. She wore an expensive gemstone necklace and a low-cut red dress that revealed her alluring collarbones. This noblewoman was Zhang Tai's mother, Zhou Qing.
At that moment, Zhou Qing kept giving Zhang Tai instructions.
"Son, you absolutely must get into Imperial Court Academy this time. Your father has already made the arrangements. As long as you get into Imperial Court Academy and graduate successfully, he'll pull some strings and send you into the Starlight City Guard afterward. Your future will be limitless!"
"Enough already. Stop bothering me. You nag nonstop every day!"
Zhang Tai replied irritably.
"All right, all right. I won't say anything else."
Zhou Qing answered indulgently.
Just then, the car suddenly braked hard, nearly throwing Zhang Tai off the back seat.
He immediately shouted angrily at the driver,
"How are you driving?"
Zhou Qing also cursed furiously.
"Liu Ye, are you trying to lose your job?"
The driver, Liu Ye, turned around anxiously to explain.
"Madam, Young Master, I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose. I had no choice. There are guard vehicles blocking us up ahead."
Zhou Qing looked forward and discovered three guard vehicles blocking their path. The three vehicles then opened their doors, and groups of guards climbed out.
"Damn it, what the hell!"
Zhang Tai cursed irritably before opening the door and getting out.
"Son, don't be angry."
Zhou Qing immediately opened the door and followed him out.
At that moment, a middle-aged guard captain with dark skin and a scar across his face led his subordinates toward them.
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