Besides, the entrance exam for Nine Provinces Academy required students to hunt a Long-Eared Rabbit on their own. Su Bai wanted to accomplish that before he enrolled!
"Crap, I'm not going to make it!" Su Bai suddenly realized he'd gotten a little too caught up in browsing. He was already late for his meeting with Xia Xueqing, so he took off running.
Outside the Yang City Fighting Gym, two girls around eighteen or nineteen were looking around, apparently waiting for someone.
One of them wore a black leather jacket and pants. Her features were delicate, and she looked very sharp and capable.
The other wore a fitted white martial arts uniform. A long ponytail hung down the back of her head, and she was as cute as the girl next door. They were Xia Xueqing and Chang Rui...
"Xueqing, what's with that Su Bai? How dare he make two gorgeous girls like us wait for him?" Chang Rui was tall, around 175 centimeters, and a little taller than Xia Xueqing.
Xia Xueqing puffed out her cheeks. Dissatisfaction filled her big, Byakugan eyes. "Sister Xiao Rui, just wait. You'll see how I teach him a lesson!"
"Then I'll look forward to it. I hope you don't disappoint me."
Chapter 22: 1 Chakra?
Just as the two girls were about to lose patience, a boy came running from across the street with a plastic bag in his hand. It was Su Bai!
"Sorry, I'm late." Su Bai looked at Xia Xueqing and Chang Rui, whose cheeks were slightly puffed, and apologetically rubbed his nose.
"Hmph, Su Bai, do you have any sense of time? You're twenty minutes late! Do you know how it feels to make two girls wait for you—ah!"
Xia Xueqing hadn't finished complaining when Su Bai pulled a cup of milk tea from the bag and waved it in front of her. The girl snatched it from him, immediately forgetting that she'd promised Chang Rui she'd teach him a lesson...
Chang Rui was speechless. Her best friend was way too easy to win over!
Su Bai looked at the sharp, capable Chang Rui, took another identical cup of milk tea from the bag, and held it out to her.
"Hello, you must be Chang Rui, the one Xueqing told me about. I'm Su Bai."
Chang Rui glanced at the milk tea he offered without reaching for it. "So you're Su Bai. I don't like milk tea. You can have it."
"Haha, sorry. It's my first time in City Center, and I got a little too caught up looking around. I lost track of time." Seeing that Chang Rui wasn't falling for it, Su Bai hurriedly apologized.
"What a country bumpkin..." Chang Rui muttered. Su Bai not only dressed like an old-fashioned country bumpkin, but he also spoke like someone who'd never seen the world.
She was very unhappy with Su Bai. It wasn't just because he was late. Most importantly, Xia Xueqing had insisted on bringing this weakling along as their teammate!
That was right. In Chang Rui's eyes, Su Bai was a weakling!
"Come on, Su Bai didn't do it on purpose. Don't be mad at him, Sister Xiao Rui." Xia Xueqing grinned and took the cup of milk tea meant for Chang Rui right out of Su Bai's hand. "Hehe, one cup wasn't quite enough for me anyway."
"Xia Xueqing, that's enough!"
"So this is how you teach him a lesson?"
Seeing her "hopeless" best friend, Chang Rui instantly blew her top!
"Hehe."
But Xia Xueqing just held her milk tea, looking delighted. She didn't know why, but the milk tea Su Bai had bought her seemed especially sweet...
After being mad for a while, Chang Rui couldn't be bothered to argue with Su Bai anymore. She led the two of them into the Combat Gym.
As soon as he walked in, Su Bai noticed how crowded it was. Most of the people were students, lining up in groups of three at two counters. They were all talking about the Campus Tournament, and he couldn't help remarking on it.
"Looks like there are quite a few people competing."
"Obviously. This is a major event hosted by the Yang City authorities!" Chang Rui snapped at Su Bai, then added, "Follow me."
Xia Xueqing smiled and tugged Su Bai along, speaking quietly. "Come on. We'll register our strength first. The audience looks forward to this every year."
"Register our strength?" Su Bai was taken aback. Wasn't this a ninja tournament?
Why did they have to reveal their strength?
Su Bai wasn't an experienced ninja yet, but he knew that keeping a ninja's information secret was important. If your opponent learned about you beforehand, they could prepare to counter you.
"Um..." Su Bai gently tugged at the girl. "Do we have to tell them the truth?"
"Not really. It's just something to get the audience excited." Xia Xueqing replied, then ran to catch up with Chang Rui.
After hearing that, a strange smile appeared on Su Bai's face.
Chang Rui led the two of them confidently to a place with a sign that read [Combat Gym Consultant]. An old man with a full head of white hair was dozing off. Chang Rui casually tugged on his beard.
"Gah! Who dares to mess with me?" The old man grimaced in pain and sprang to his feet. A powerful aura suddenly burst from his body, making Su Bai's expression change.
"So strong! Even stronger than Brother Chu!"
The commotion drew the attention of the students waiting in line. One of the sharp-eyed ones recognized the old man.
"That's Consultant Lan Hong! He's a Chunin. How dare those three students offend him?"
Hearing the students talking, Su Bai felt that things were even worse. He instinctively stepped in front of Xia Xueqing.
But the next moment, when the old man recognized Chang Rui and Xia Xueqing standing in front of him, he immediately withdrew his aura.
Xia Xueqing stared blankly at the figure in front of her, then the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
"So it was you two little girls. I was wondering who'd be so bold." The old man sat down again helplessly. It was obvious that he knew the two girls.
"Hehe, Grandpa Lan, it wasn't me!" Xia Xueqing said playfully. She was in a very good mood...
Chang Rui pursed her lips. "Grandpa Lan, we're here to register for the Campus Tournament. Hurry up and sign us up."
All bark and no bite!
Seeing that Lan Hong hadn't gotten angry, everyone grew even more curious. But when they saw Xia Xueqing's eyes, they understood...
So she was the little princess of the Xia Family. No wonder Consultant Lan Hong hadn't lost his temper.
It was true that a Chunin was considered strong... but it depended on who they were being compared to. Compared with ordinary people, they naturally stood above them. But compared to a bloodline clan like the Xia Family... they were nothing special.
After their surprise, people began speculating about Su Bai and Chang Rui's identities too. Those who recognized Chang Rui grew even more curious about Su Bai!
One teammate was the little princess of the Xia Family, and the other was the apple of the Chang Family's eye. Just who was this man? There didn't seem to be anyone important among Yang City's younger generation who looked like him.
Still, they only wondered about it. Nobody came over to ask.
Ever since the Magic Beasts invaded and the Federal Government was established, society had become increasingly polarized!
People at the bottom were always careful around those at the top, afraid of offending those lofty "nobles!"
Not everyone was as lucky as Su Bai to have a "friend" like Xia Xueqing.
"Let's hear it. The old man wants to see whether you two girls have improved lately." Lan Hong took out a form and looked at Xia Xueqing and Chang Rui with a kindly smile.
As the Combat Gym's consultant, of course he didn't handle registrations. But he'd watched these two girls grow up, and he was very fond of them, so he'd spoiled them a little over the years.
Xia Xueqing nodded and began entering her information.
"Xia Xueqing, Yangcheng No. 1 High School, specializes in Taijutsu and Gentle Fist. Chakra Level: 6.5 cards."
Su Bai knew that Gentle Fist was the signature Taijutsu of the Byakugan Clan. With the Byakugan, its user could see through the human body and objects, observe an opponent's chakra pathways, and use that knowledge to aid their attacks. It was said to be even more powerful than the Sharingan!
But that was information from the original story. The actual power of the Byakugan and Gentle Fist in this world still remained to be seen.
"6.5 cards? You've improved quite a bit, little girl. I remember you had 4.2 cards last month." Lan Hong praised Xia Xueqing, then turned to Chang Rui.
"I'm not as good as Xueqing." Chang Rui pursed her lips and stepped forward on her long legs. "Chang Rui, Yang City Noble School. Specializes in ninjutsu: Fire Release: Great Fireball and Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. Chakra Level: 6.1 cards."
Two C-rank ninjutsu?
Su Bai was surprised when Chang Rui finished. He hadn't expected the girl in the black leather jacket and pants to be so powerful!
She'd awakened two chakra natures as a Genin and mastered two C-rank ninjutsu. Su Bai had experience learning D-rank ninjutsu, so he knew how difficult it was to master a ninjutsu!
He had the Stat-Adding System, which let him skip the training process and master a technique outright. But other people didn't have that. Chang Rui's talent was obvious!
"Not only is she talented, she must come from quite a powerful family, too." Su Bai thought to himself. The cost of C-rank ninjutsu was beyond what an ordinary family could afford.
"Oh? You've mastered a new Wind Release technique? You're impressive too, Chang." Lan Hong praised her.
Then he looked at Su Bai, puzzled.
"Young man, you look unfamiliar."
"Grandpa Lan, Su Bai is my classmate. You haven't met him before!" Xia Xueqing hurriedly explained.
"Oh, I see." Lan Hong nodded, not giving it much thought. "Tell us about yourself, young man."
"Okay." Su Bai stepped forward and spoke in a low voice. "Su Bai, Yangcheng No. 1 High School, specializes in ninjutsu: 'Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu.' Chakra Level..."
At that, he smiled. "1 card."
"1 card?" Lan Hong looked at Su Bai in surprise, wondering why these two girls, who usually thought so highly of themselves, had brought a burden along to compete. He immediately thought less of him.
"That kid probably begged the Xia girl to let him tag along and get a ranking."
Su Bai sensed his attitude and chuckled to himself. Only an idiot would reveal their true strength.
He had only one thing on his mind: getting the prize. Everything else was nonsense.
Besides, Su Bai figured plenty of people were probably lying about their information!
Chapter 23: The Ice Release Ninja
Lan Hong's pen went "scratch, scratch, scratch" as he wrote on the form: Su Bai, Chakra Level: 1 card.
Chang Rui glanced at Su Bai's form, then pursed her lips at him. "Tch. I hope you don't drag us down."
"Heh."
Su Bai shook his head with a laugh and said nothing.
"Sister Xiao Rui!"
"Okay, okay, I won't pick on him anymore, all right? Honestly!" Chang Rui helplessly rolled her eyes and thought to herself.
My best friend is really something. She's forgotten loyalty for a guy. Hmph!
That was right. Chang Rui thought Xia Xueqing was deliberately trying to "help" Su Bai get a ranking!
As the cherished daughter of Yang City's second-in-command, Chang Rui naturally had plenty of sources of information. She knew these big tournaments well.
Judging by the competitors' strength in previous tournaments, there were generally three levels.
The first group had less than 1 card of Chakra and only knew the Three Body Technique. They were the weakest, basically there just to go through the motions and broaden their horizons. They weren't expecting to place.
The second group was a little stronger. They generally had two or three cards of Chakra and had mastered one or two D-rank ninjutsu. They were capable of placing in the tournament's top five.
The third group consisted of people like her and Xia Xueqing.
These competitors usually had more than 5 cards of Chakra, had mastered one or two C-rank ninjutsu, or possessed a Kekkei Genkai. They were very powerful and were among the favorites to win!
"Forget it. Xueqing and I are here, so it doesn't matter whether this kid pulls his weight." Chang Rui shook her head, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Su Bai, just don't get so scared that you wet your pants when you get on stage. Xueqing and I will handle the fighting, got it?"
Wet his pants?
Su Bai was stunned.
This girl really was... "bold"!
"Hehe, don't worry. I won't drag you down," Su Bai replied with a smile.
Although they looked down on him, he didn't intend to explain. Talking wouldn't convince anyone; he'd have to show them what he could really do.
As for Chang Rui's suggestion that he shouldn't contribute? Su Bai couldn't accept that. They were teammates, and they were all competing for a good ranking. How could he just sit on the sidelines and cheer?
Xia Xueqing watched her best friend keep "bullying" her good friend and puffed out her cheeks. She tugged at Chang Rui, ready to leave.
"Well, if it isn't our dainty Miss Chang! You're competing too?"
Just then, a scornful voice rang out, full of mockery. The three of them turned to look.
Su Bai saw a girl about his age approaching, with two boys walking beside her.
The girl wore a red dress, and her long hair fell over her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth and pale as porcelain, and her eyes were watery, as if they could speak.
She was tall and slender, with long, well-proportioned legs. She wore a pair of black high heels and looked like a beautiful cat standing there, yet her bearing was so refined and elegant.
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