Ten minutes later...
"Clatter—clatter—"
The battered van rumbled down the road as though it were bearing some immense burden, looking heavy and weighed down.
And that was indeed the case. Inside the van, Fang Bai and Xiao Yuan stared at each other in silence, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Their bodies took up two-thirds of the van's back seat!
Director Liu, sitting in the driver's seat, looked entirely at ease. Chuckling, he said, "There are two more people to pick up. Once we've got you all, we can head straight to the assessment."
Fang Bai hesitated before saying, "Um, Director, let me interrupt for a second. Are you sure this van can still fit two more people?"
With Xiao Yuan aboard, a single seat could not contain him at all. He alone occupied the space of two people, and with all their luggage, the van was already crowded.
Director Liu smiled warmly. "Hey! You'll all be classmates in the future. Help each other out and be accommodating. It's a good chance to get used to one another."
Fang Bai rolled his eyes. Get used to one another, my ass! Who wanted to get used to some big grown man?
Where were the smooth-skinned little swallows?
Xiao Yuan spoke shyly. "Hello, um, my name is Xiao Yuan. I grew up in a village."
So he was a village kid, too?
Fang Bai smiled. "Hello, I'm Fang Bai."
Xiao Yuan's clear gaze fell upon Fang Bai as he said sincerely, "My dad told me that I should blend in with my classmates. When do we start fighting?"
"???"
A string of question marks practically appeared over Fang Bai's head.
Director Liu, who was driving, burst out laughing and explained, "Xiao Yuan, your dad meant that you should get along peacefully with your classmates, not fight them."
Xiao Yuan looked thoughtful, then nodded. "Oh, is that what he meant?"
Fang Bai's expression turned rather wonderful. This big fellow looked strong of limb, but his brain seemed a little lacking. How had this guy awakened?
But then again, it was great if he was not too bright! He would be easy to fool!
"Xiao Yuan, are you already a First-order Martial Artist?"
Fang Bai asked curiously.
Xiao Yuan looked puzzled. "What is a First-order Martial Artist?"
After thinking about it, Fang Bai gestured with his hands. "That power that appeared in your body—how long have you had it?"
Xiao Yuan blinked, then honestly answered, "I think I've had it ever since I could remember."
Director Liu and Fang Bai's eyelids twitched.
Holy shit! That was absurdly freakish!
Xiao Yuan had wanted to raise a hand and scratch his head, only to realize that his head was already nearly touching the roof of the van. He awkwardly lowered his hand and explained, "When I was little, my dad took me hunting in the mountains. We ran into a tiger, and it almost ate him. I was frantic, and then that power appeared. By the time my mind cleared, the tiger was dead."
Fang Bai rubbed his chin. "You must have erupted with your potential in a desperate situation and awakened ahead of time."
Xiao Yuan asked curiously, "Do all my classmates have powers like these?"
Fang Bai nodded with a smile. "Of course! Look at me—I'm lightning-element. You're earth-element. There are Martial Artists with other attributes too."
Xiao Yuan nodded as though he understood. "So everyone at school is that amazing? They must know lots of words, right? Dad said that if I joined a school, I could learn lots of words."
"Uh..."
That left Fang Bai at a loss for words.
"Of course! Xiao Yuan, you don't know this, but Fang Bai is a top student! You can have him teach you to read later!"
Director Liu said with a beaming smile.
Xiao Yuan's eyes lit up as he looked at Fang Bai eagerly. "Can I really?"
A strange glint flashed through Fang Bai's eyes. Then he broke into a chrysanthemum-like smile and nodded. "Of course you can! From now on, just follow me. You can call me Big Brother, and I'll teach you to read!"
Xiao Yuan nodded repeatedly. "Big Brother!"
Fang Bai smiled in satisfaction.
He did not know how strong Xiao Yuan was in combat, but just looking at his build told him the fellow was terrifyingly powerful! He had found himself a helper as well!
Director Liu naturally saw through Fang Bai's thoughts. He merely smiled and did not interfere. After all, forming factions in the Martial Academy was perfectly normal!
"Director, how much longer until we get there?"
"Probably another two hours."
"? Are you kidding? In two hours, we could cross all of Magic City, couldn't we?"
"Hey! You're exactly right. Xiao Yuan was in the west of the city, and the next student is in the east."
"..."
"If you're tired, take a nap. You can rest assured about my driving skills."
"...No, I need to take a dump."
"???"
More than two hours later, the van arrived at its destination.
Looking at the fuel gauge, Director Liu said gloomily, "A full tank of gas actually burned up that fast..."
Fang Bai could finally get out and catch his breath. Then he looked around in surprise.
He had thought they were heading out into the middle of nowhere again.
What met his eyes was a villa district. The surroundings were elegant and tranquil, as though even the air were fresh.
"Director, where's the person?"
Director Liu patted the dust from his suit and said calmly, "Follow me."
He strode skillfully into the villa district, with Fang Bai and Xiao Yuan following behind him.
But the moment they reached the entrance, security guards stopped them. "Halt!"
Director Liu glanced at them and said, "I'm the Martial Academy's Director of Human Resources. I have an appointment with Mr. Qi."
Hearing that, the guard gave the group a suspicious look before saying, "Please wait."
Fang Bai leaned closer and whispered, "Director, am I seeing things? That guard is actually a Martial Artist?"
Director Liu replied calmly, "That's normal. Martial Artists are people too, and they need to make a living here. They should be independent Martial Artists."
Fang Bai looked thoughtful. "Martial Artists must make good money as security guards, right?"
"Depends on the situation, but a monthly salary of tens of thousands, plus six insurances and two funds, is possible."
"That much?"
Wasn't that far more comfortable than risking one's life to kill demonic beasts?
Before long, the guard returned. At the same time, the gates opened, and an extended luxury car drove over from the distance.
"You may go in."
Director Liu led Fang Bai and Xiao Yuan into the villa district. The luxury car stopped before them, and an elderly man in a suit and tailcoat stepped out.
He bowed slightly with impeccable gentlemanly grace. "Director Liu, we have been awaiting you for some time."
Director Liu said evenly, "Please take us to see Mr. Qi."
"My apologies, but sir is out handling some matters. Only the young master is at home."
"No matter. The person I came for is Qi Tian."
"Very well. Esteemed guests, please get in."
After Fang Bai got into the luxury car, he clicked his tongue in admiration. "So this is what a car worth tens of millions feels like? It really is different."
The butler smiled. "Allow me to correct you. This car cost over a hundred million."
Fang Bai: "..."
Poverty had limited his imagination!
Damnable capitalists! Another day of hating capital!
Xiao Yuan stood by the car door, looking conflicted. "Big Brother, I can't get in."
Fang Bai frowned. "You can't even squeeze in by force?"
"No. I'm too big."
"..."
In the end, Xiao Yuan could only walk, following behind the slowly moving luxury car.
The car stopped in front of an opulent villa.
Led by the butler, Director Liu and the others entered.
"Good heavens! Were these walls built with freaking gold?"
The instant he stepped inside, Fang Bai was nearly blinded by the dazzling golden reflections before his titanium-alloy dog eyes.
The villa's decorations were extraordinarily luxurious. It could simply be called outrageously extravagant!
Having grown up in a remote mountain hollow, Xiao Yuan had no real concept of such things and merely looked around curiously.
Other than Director Liu, the two of them looked like country bumpkins who had just entered the city.
"Yo! Director Liu! We've finally been waiting for you!"
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