Save Yourself, or Fend for Yourself and Perish

Jiang Tianhai looked at the young faces below the stage and sighed inwardly before taking the microphone from Jiang Weiwei.

"Students, I am not actually as great as your Principal said. I merely did what a soldier, what a serviceman, was supposed to do. Looking at your young faces reminds me of my old classmates.

Back then, they and I were just like you are now—full of burning blood and lofty ideals. But I must tell you this: the path of a martial artist was strewn with hardships. Once you set foot upon it, you would face endless Fierce Beasts, unceasing warfare, bloodshed, and sacrifice.

I can tell you now that among the students who graduated from various Wu Universities over the past five years, the survival rate was no more than thirty percent. At any moment, you might have to part from your family and friends and face death.

Face the overwhelming tides of Fierce Beasts. I do not wish to deceive you either. Wu Universities had loosened their admission policies this time precisely because the front lines were under immense pressure.

You might be sent to the front lines at any time. You might die at any time. If you were afraid now and chose to withdraw, I would not blame you. You had that right and that opportunity now.

But once you became a Wu University student and stepped onto the battlefield, if you became afraid and ran away then, let me tell you—I would be the first to kill you."

At that, Jiang Tianhai paused for a full two minutes, giving the students below ample time to think.

"Very good. I have seen your courage and your resolve. Now, follow me in taking the oath. I swear!" The students below raised their right hands, clenched them into fists, and roared in unison with Jiang Tianhai.

"I swear that, as a martial artist, I will defend our homeland with flesh and blood. I will use my flesh as a shield and my bones and sinews as blades, protecting our mountains and rivers from harm. If battle comes, I will stain the battlefield with my blood. If I die, I will forge the Great Wall with my bones."

At that moment, the shouts below shook the heavens, and the blood-boiling oath hammered against every soul present. At that moment, every student stood straight and held their heads high. Their cries shot into the skies, shaking heaven and earth!

When the opening ceremony ended, the Homeroom Teachers led their respective classes back to the classrooms.

Lin Hao followed his class back into the classroom as well. Class One's Homeroom Teacher was called Han Lingling, a girl who looked very delicate. She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, with fair skin and neat, jet-black hair cut to her ears.

Once the students were seated, Han Lingling said, "Students, welcome once again to Shancheng University of Martial Arts. My name is Han Lingling, and I will be your Homeroom Teacher for the next four years."

As she spoke, Han Lingling wrote her name on the blackboard, followed by her contact information. "There will be no formal classes today, because starting tomorrow, you will begin three months of military training. Everyone must participate." Upon hearing that they had to undergo military training, the students all pulled long faces, utterly different from how they had looked while taking their oath just now.

After all, they were still children. Looking at the wailing students below, Han Lingling did not get angry, merely smiling faintly. "Starting tomorrow, instructors dispatched by the Western Military Region Headquarters will lead your military training, and I will accompany the unit as well. There will be no self-introductions today. The instructors will lead you tomorrow. Assemble on the training ground at eight tomorrow morning." With that, Han Lingling dismissed the class.

Before leaving, Han Lingling suddenly asked, "Which one of you is Lin Hao?" The students present were collectively stunned, and even Lin Hao himself froze slightly. He then raised his hand. "Teacher Han, that's me."

"Come with me." With that, she walked out of the classroom, and Lin Hao hurried after her.

"Damn, is Teacher going to give him special tutoring?"

"I smell someone cozying up to a powerful thigh."

The students in the classroom immediately began gossiping.

Lin Hao took a few quick steps to catch up with the Homeroom Teacher ahead of him. "Teacher Han, were you looking for me?"

Han Lingling smiled. "I wasn't looking for you. Our Principal was."

"Uh, what does Weiwei want with me?" Lin Hao spoke too quickly. He was probably used to calling her Weiwei and had not paid attention to his form of address. Han Lingling, however, did not see it that way. She gave Lin Hao an odd look. "You know our Principal well?"

"Ah, more or less." Lin Hao laughed awkwardly.

"Are you his friend?" Han Lingling asked curiously.

"No, I'm his enemy!" Lin Hao's face darkened.

By then, Han Lingling had already brought Lin Hao to the door of the Principal's office. She knocked, and only after receiving a response from inside did she open the door and enter.

"Principal Jiang, I brought Lin Hao." Han Lingling gave a respectful bow.

At that moment, Jiang Weiwei was not the only person in the Principal's Office. There was also a tall Middle-aged Man in military uniform. He was Jiang Tianhai, the very man who had just led the students in their oath. Seeing Lin Hao arrive, Jiang Weiwei smiled and said, "Teacher Han, Lin Hao will not undergo military training with the class. Also, simply register him for his courses. He may be absent at times."

Han Lingling was somewhat surprised after hearing this, but she did not object. She merely bowed slightly. "Understood, Principal." She then withdrew.

After Han Lingling left, Jiang Tianhai walked over to Lin Hao. "You are Lin Hao?"

Lin Hao was surprised and answered instinctively, "Yes." The instant the words left his mouth, a surging pressure bore down on him.

Lin Hao felt as though several mountains were strapped to his back, and his entire body instantly became unable to move. Yet in the blink of an eye, lightning suddenly spread around him. The black arcs of electricity formed armor-like protection around Lin Hao.

The lightning's might did not diminish, crackling around Lin Hao. The walls and vases in the room shattered one after another. Yet Lin Hao straightened his back and met Jiang Tianhai's gaze without fear.

Jiang Tianhai was deeply astonished. Who was he? He was the God of War, a Divine-level Expert. Though the pressure he had released was minimal, it was not something a Bronze Initial Stage Lin Hao should have been able to withstand. Yet Lin Hao had not only endured it successfully—he even showed signs of striking back. Jiang Weiwei beside them was equally dumbfounded.

Lin Hao was this fierce? He remained unshaken even before a Divine-tier powerhouse.

After a while, Jiang Tianhai withdrew his pressure. "Very good. I heard from Weiwei that you wanted more intense military training. At first, I thought you were just some hot-blooded fool with a fevered brain. I did not expect you to truly make me see you in a new light."

"General Jiang, you flatter me. This little bit of ability is still nothing before you." Lin Hao remained neither humble nor overbearing. Jiang Tianhai was quite satisfied with his attitude. "Weiwei, tomorrow I will find him several good instructors for one-against-many training."

"One against many? Dad, can Lin Hao handle that?"

"Dad?" Lin Hao blurted out in shock.

Holy shit, Jiang Weiwei's dad is Jiang Tianhai—a top-tier big shot! She isn't trying to get revenge on me over yesterday, is she? No way, right? She shouldn't be that petty, should she? No wonder you praised him so extravagantly on stage today. Turns out he's your dad.

Hearing Lin Hao's cry, Jiang Tianhai gave Lin Hao an odd look, then looked at Jiang Weiwei.

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Lin Hao hurriedly explained. "I meant, you're Weiwei's dad?" It would have been better if he had not explained; the more he explained, the more muddled it became.

Jiang Tianhai narrowed his eyes at Lin Hao. "What did you just call my daughter?"

"Ah!" Realizing he had misspoken again, Lin Hao hurriedly said, "Uncle, I meant Principal Jiang."

Jiang Tianhai's face darkened with black lines. Who was his uncle? His whole family was uncles.

Lin Hao was completely numb. He simply shut his mouth and frantically signaled Jiang Weiwei with his eyes.

Damn it, Weiwei, save me. You wouldn't just stand by and watch me die, would you? Would you? Your dad is about to pull out his gun.

Jiang Weiwei, meanwhile, covered her forehead with one hand and turned away, unwilling to pay Lin Hao any attention. Ah, Lin Hao, Lin Hao. Save yourself if you can; fend for yourself and perish.