Popularity and Rhythm 2

His interactions with Zhao Peng were even more direct and lively.

Zhao Peng was the "Martial Arts Second Generation" in the class. His family was well-off, and his father was the director of a well-known martial arts hall in the city. He had grown up in the martial arts hall, possessing a solid foundation. His personality was outgoing and generous, and he enjoyed making friends, especially those with "potential."

The incident happened after a martial arts sparring class. That day, Chen Mo and Zhao Peng were paired up to practice side kicks. Chen Mo's side kick, amplified by his Qi and Blood, was fast and crisp. He kicked the target paper, producing a sharp "snap." The force far exceeded the level of his peers.

"Not bad, Brother Mo!" As soon as the sparring ended, Zhao Peng slung an arm around Chen Mo's shoulder, his voice booming and making Chen Mo's ears ring. "That side kick just now had some power! Much stronger than last month! Did you sneak some miraculous medicine, kid? You're improving so fast!"

Chen Mo's back hurt from his patting. He couldn't help but cough twice and said with a wry smile, "Brother Peng, take it easy! I didn't take any miraculous medicine. I just followed Instructor Xu's advice to practice more and ponder more. I got lucky and just found the feeling. I'm still far behind your foundation, built since childhood."

"Heh, don't give me that!" Zhao Peng didn't believe his polite words. His eyes shone like he had discovered treasure. "I think you've got something going on, kid!" He leaned closer, his tone carrying a hint of mystery, yet full of generosity. "Hey, let me tell you something. My family just bought the latest model of a 'Precision Type' Qi and Blood Meter. It's much more accurate than that old junk machine the school uses every month! It can measure not only the total Qi and Blood but also Qi and Blood activity and potential assessment! How about it, are you free this weekend? Come over to my place, and we can test you. See what your current level really is! I guarantee you'll be amazed!"

This invitation was too tempting.

It was important to know that a Qi and Blood Meter was an essential tool for cultivators. The accuracy of Qi and Blood data directly affected the adjustment of cultivation plans. The school's old Qi and Blood Meter had huge errors and could only provide a rough numerical value. Zhao Peng's family's Precision Type Qi and Blood Meter was said to cost hundreds of thousands, and the data it produced was accurate to two decimal places, along with professional potential analysis. With this, Chen Mo could more clearly grasp his cultivation progress, which was like sending charcoal in the snow for him.

Chen Mo's heart stirred. He showed a perfectly timed look of surprise, mixed with a bit of shyness. "This... won't it be too much trouble? That machine is quite expensive, right? What if I break it?"

"Trouble? We're brothers!" Zhao Peng waved his hand dismissively, incredibly generous. "That thing at my place is just for decoration! My parents are busy cultivating and don't have time to use it. It's just sitting there. It's settled then! Saturday afternoon, I'll send you the address! If you don't come, you're not giving me face!"

With things said this way, refusing further would seem distant.

"Then thank you in advance, Brother Peng!" Chen Mo said sincerely. He knew that with someone of Zhao Peng's personality, the more you frankly accepted his kindness, the more he would see you as straightforward and not distant. Of course, he also quietly kept this favor in mind.

The class advisor, Old Li, also keenly noticed Chen Mo's changes.

It was after a mock exam. Chen Mo's total score had increased by a full eighty points from the last time, pushing him into the top twenty of the class. Old Li called him to the office. His report card was on the desk, and Old Li's face was full of a relieved smile.

"Chen Mo, you've made great progress recently. All the teachers have praised you," Old Li said kindly, pointing to the chair beside him. "Sit down. I want to ask you something. Are you affected by sitting in the back row? Do you want me to move your seat to the front? The learning environment in the front is better, and it's easier for you to interact with the top students."

Chen Mo felt a warmth in his heart. He could genuinely feel Old Li's concern. After a moment's thought, he stood up and sincerely declined, "Thank you for your concern, Teacher Li. But I'm used to my current seat, and it's more convenient for me to study independently. Besides, Zhang Shun and the others are also in the back row, and we can discuss problems with each other. I promise, if I encounter anything I don't understand in the future, I will come to the office to ask the teachers for advice!"

Looking at his steady gaze, Old Li knew the boy had his own pace and plans, so he didn't insist. He nodded with satisfaction, patted Chen Mo's shoulder, and said, "Good, having your own opinions is a good thing. Keep up this momentum, and passing the minimum score is very hopeful. Aiming for a key university isn't impossible either! Keep it up!"

"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!" Chen Mo nodded vigorously, his heart feeling warm.

Of course, adolescent hormones were never absent.

As Chen Mo became more and more "shining," some of the more lively or sensitive girls in the class also began to cast curious glances his way. The frequency of borrowing notes increased, as did the frequency of asking questions. Occasionally, when discussing class activities, the girls' eyes held a bit more exploration and smiles.

Chen Mo dealt with all of this with gentleness, politeness, but maintaining an appropriate distance. Borrowing notes? No problem, he'd hand them over casually. Asking questions? He'd answer patiently but never chat. Discussing activities? He'd stick to the matter at hand, stopping at the point.

After all, his soul contained a thirty-something-year-old adult. He was long past the stage of being easily swayed by a little attention from the opposite sex. Moreover, with the college entrance examination approaching and cultivation being paramount, any distraction was a luxury.

The only one in the class who seemed unaffected by this "Chen Mo craze" was probably Xu Yunjing.

She remained like a perfect ice sculpture, or a monument of self-discipline. Most of the time, she was immersed in her own world of study and cultivation, oblivious to the outside world. Around her, only two or three equally outstanding girls gathered, their conversations always revolving around studies and martial arts, concise and efficient.

Chen Mo occasionally felt a faint gaze cast from her direction, perhaps stemming from the competitive instinct between top students, or perhaps mere curiosity. But that was all. The gaze would fall upon him and quickly move away, without any lingering.

This is good, Chen Mo thought. Maintaining distance, working hard individually, and not disturbing each other is the best state.

And his most solid inner circle had always consisted of just two people – Zhang Shun and Zhang Yuxi.

Zhang Yuxi had become Chen Mo's "chief inspector" for liberal arts knowledge and his number one "study fangirl." Her foundation in history and politics was already good, but her thinking was somewhat limited, always unable to break free from the textbook framework. Chen Mo's problem-solving approaches, however, integrated his knowledge from two lifetimes, offering unexpected angles that always brought her new inspiration.

Under Chen Mo's influence, Zhang Yuxi's progress was also rapid. In several small exams, her total liberal arts score had broken into the top fifty in the grade, a result she wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

"Chen Mo, Chen Mo! Look, look!" During a break that day, Zhang Yuxi ran to Chen Mo's seat, holding a history paper, like a happy little bird. Her eyes shone like stars in the sky, and her baby-fat cheeks were flushed with excitement. "For this essay question about the 'Early Social Structure Changes of the Psionic Tide,' I used your idea from last time about 'resource redistribution leading to class mobility'! Look, the teacher gave me full marks!"

Chen Mo took the paper and looked at it. The handwriting was delicate and neat, the logic clear, and the arguments sufficient and detailed. It was indeed a good answer. He nodded in approval, pointed at a spot with his finger, and offered a small suggestion: "It's written very well. But here, the conclusion that 'Traditional Aristocratic Martial Artist Families rapidly declined' is a bit too absolute. Think about it, some families with deep foundations, relying on their accumulated resources, successfully transformed into Psionic Families and did not decline. You could add 'partially' or 'most of them,' which would make the statement more rigorous."

"Oh, right!" Zhang Yuxi slapped her forehead, suddenly enlightened. She immediately took out her pen and started revising on the spot, muttering softly, "Compared to you, I always feel like my thinking is missing something... Did you secretly take a 'Mind Expansion Potion'? Otherwise, how could you suddenly be so amazing!"

Chen Mo couldn't help but chuckle. He had heard this more than once. He shrugged and gave his standard joking answer: "There's no such thing. It's just... I've been practicing stances for so long, maybe the qi and blood have flowed to my brain."

As soon as he said this, even the few boys nearby who overheard couldn't help but laugh.