The frequent, high-intensity sparring had left Zhao Rui mentally exhausted.
After finishing a bout with his coach that afternoon and accumulating experience equal to fifty percent of the Chaotic Wind Saber Technique, Zhao Rui had just walked out of the martial arts center when Bai Xuening called him.
The young girl asked how he thought he'd done on the exams and which school he planned to apply to.
The exams had been over for several days, and only now had she thought to ask. She seemed a little slow on the uptake.
Zhao Rui told her he wanted to apply to Dongqi University, though the score requirement was a little high. His estimate put him around the cutoff from previous years.
It was a close call.
"Oh, the questions were hard this year, so the estimated cutoff should be lower. I believe in you!"
"What about you?"
"I—I'm applying to Chuan University. It's close to Mount Emei."
"Oh!"
Zhao Rui answered, understanding. After all, she was a beginner disciple of Mount Emei, so Chuan University probably had an internal quota for them.
"What have you been doing at home these past few days?"
After asking what she'd called about, Bai Xuening's voice softened. She asked in a sweet, gentle murmur.
"Just hanging around. Nothing much going on. I signed up as a sparring partner these past couple of days, just to make some extra money."
Zhao Rui said casually.
"A sparring partner? Won't that get in the way of your training? Do you need money? I—I can lend you some."
The girl hesitated for a long moment, as though she was afraid that talking about money would hurt Zhao Rui's pride.
"I'm not short on money. I'm just trying to get more real combat experience."
Zhao Rui brushed her off casually. As for whether he was short on money, did he even need to guess? Of course he was. In any era, money was the hard currency of wealth, companions, techniques, and a place to practice.
"Oh. Then make sure you manage your time. You can't neglect your martial arts training."
"Got it. You're so naggy! That's not like you at all."
A smile touched Zhao Rui's lips.
"You don't know a good thing when you see it. Hmph. I'm hanging up."
Bai Xuening's pink lips pursed into a pout, and she hung up with a touch of petulance.
"Hey? You're the one who called me!"
Zhao Rui looked at his phone's home screen and couldn't help shrugging.
Summer vacation was long and carefree by nature, with no homework and no parents breathing down their necks.
Only at this time could students truly enjoy a completely relaxing break.
After the whole "Fiery Cloud Evil God" business, Zhao Rui had reined in his desire to let loose.
For two full weeks, he'd holed up at the martial arts center as a sparring partner.
Then, at last, the day came when the Gaokao results were released.
"Son, how many points?"
Zhao Jincheng and his wife had been waiting anxiously outside Zhao Rui's bedroom. The moment Zhao Rui came out after checking his scores, they hurried to ask.
"623. Sixteen points above the key university cutoff."
"How many?"
Zhao Jincheng and his wife stared in disbelief. They'd never imagined their son would score so highly.
It was dozens of points higher than they'd expected him to get on the Gaokao.
"I got full marks in both the theory and practical parts of my martial arts major exam... and I did pretty well in math, too."
Zhao Rui smiled and explained his results. With an adult's way of thinking and a teenager's memory, he'd already had a natural advantage.
On top of that, the system panel had helped raise his martial arts level.
"That's wonderful, wonderful! I'd better tell your grandpa and the others right away..."
Zhao Jincheng was beaming with excitement. He quickly turned to get his phone and call their relatives and friends.
Xue Wenhui was no exception; she was on the phone nonstop.
Watching his parents eagerly share the good news with their relatives, Zhao Rui couldn't help smiling.
Now that the results were out, it was time to fill out their applications.
A few days later, the day to submit applications arrived. Zhao Rui got up early and rode his bicycle to school.
It was summer vacation, and no students were attending classes on campus.
The people strolling leisurely through the school gates were all recent high school graduates there to fill out their applications.
"Zhao Rui, what'd you get?"
Just before the school gates, Zhao Rui ran into a few classmates. They rode their bikes onto campus together.
"623!"
"Zhao Rui, that's an amazing score!"
"Exactly! With grades like that, you might even make it into Dongqi University!"
His classmates hadn't expected Zhao Rui, whose scores usually hovered around the undergraduate cutoff, to do so well this time.
"I got lucky. I guessed, and all my guesses were right!"
Zhao Rui laughed.
"That's still a kind of skill!"
"Exactly! I didn't guess a single one right. There were several questions! What a waste. If I'd gotten them, I'd have had ten more points!"
They chatted as they went, and soon arrived at the teaching building. After locking up their bikes, they headed to the classroom together.
They hadn't seen one another in a long time, so now that they were together again, they had no end of things to talk about.
"Look, it's Luo Min. I heard Zhejiang University was going to waive her entrance exam, but she insisted on taking it herself. I wonder how she did."
"She always gets great grades. I'm sure she did well."
As soon as they reached the third-floor stairs, they spotted a graceful, beautiful girl strolling around the corner ahead.
It was Luo Min, the class's famous top student and resident beauty.
"Hi, everyone!"
A moment later, they passed one another, and Luo Min smiled and waved at them. Her smile was warm and easygoing.
None of them had expected her to greet them. Their hearts raced, and each of them hurried to put on what he thought was his best smile.
After she left, they began teasing one another with exaggerated sighs. "Now I won't get to see my Minmin anymore!"
"Who says she's your Minmin? She's our Minmin."
"I'm a man of principle!"
"..."
"Filthy and shameless!"
Amid the laughter, Zhao Rui followed the others into the classroom.
"Old Zhao, you're late!"
As soon as he entered, Yang Fan waved to him.
Zhao Rui walked over and sat down. Yang Fan immediately leaned in and whispered, "I heard Wang Han did badly. He only got 596."
"That low? That's way below his usual score."
"That's what he gets for showing off all the time. If he's got the nerve to hit on a teacher, he'd better have the nerve to get into college."
Yang Fan sounded rather pleased at Wang Han's expense. Wang Han had been one of the only two Level Four Martial Artists in the class. Of course, after Zhao Rui joined their ranks, there were three.
"Why do you care?"
Zhao Rui smiled.
"I just can't stand him!"
Yang Fan grumbled twice and was about to say more when Sun Tiantian, sitting in front of them, turned around and looked at Zhao Rui. She asked softly, "Which school are you applying to?"
"I'm applying to Dongqi University!"
"Dongqi?" Sun Tiantian paused, then let out a dejected "Oh." "You really want to go to the same school as Luo Min that badly?"
"Luo Min? I don't know which school she's applying to."
"But your score's cutting it close. Applying there isn't a sure thing!"
Sun Tiantian said with obvious displeasure.
"I'll accept whatever they assign me."
Zhao Rui smiled and didn't elaborate. He had only one reason for wanting to apply to Dongqi University.
Among the universities in the province, only a handful, including Dongqi University, had their own university martial arts teams.
And theirs were good enough to compete in high-level events like the provincial league.
Other universities had teams too, but they weren't as strong. They could only vie for glory at provincial sports meets or martial arts competitions.
"Hmph. Excuses."
Sun Tiantian turned away in annoyance and stopped talking to Zhao Rui.
Zhao Rui spread his hands helplessly, then looked at Yang Fan and asked, "Is Luo Min applying to Dongqi University?"
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