Chapter 43

"Exactly! Although everyone considered the Music Department a support profession, if you learned it well, your combat power could be quite formidable too. The Empire's Imperial Preceptor, Yun Lan, came from the Battle Song Priests!" Qin Huai shamelessly muddled the two concepts together. Could Battle Song Priests with powerful spiritual power possibly be the same as a Music Department meant merely for entertainment? Still, he was worried about Qin Yi. Qin Yi had grown up among commoners and had never received any systematic training. Now that he was older, training would be very difficult. Qin Huai had only this one son. In any case, he could support him; there was no need for Qin Yi to struggle so hard on his own.

Naturally, Qin Yi had no idea about Qin Huai's painstaking concern. Still, he was quite happy at the thought that he would not have to study all that random nonsense. He immediately told Qin Huai how satisfied he was and so on. After they chatted for a while, they arrived at First Military Academy Affiliated School.

After getting out of the car, Qin Yi looked at First Military Academy Affiliated School before him. Even its gates alone carried a fierce, magnificent air, and he raised his brows in surprise. This seemed kind of interesting, huh?

"First Military Academy Affiliated School is the junior division of First Military Academy. Students here who achieve outstanding grades and performance can advance directly to First Military Academy. Entering First Military Academy means taking your first step into society. Graduates of First Military Academy enter the military directly with the rank of second lieutenant. Many people buried themselves in books for more than ten years just to get into First Military Academy. At the same time, First Military Academy is also the best path for commoners to rise into the nobility." Qin Huai explained with a smile. As they spoke, they passed through the gates. A thousand meters straight ahead stood a marble statue. An imposing man in military uniform stared solemnly forward, his right hand behind his back and his left holding something like a horn. The entire statue stood fifty meters tall, towering with majestic grandeur. As Qin Yi looked at it, something suddenly stirred in his heart.

"Faith Power—such powerful Faith Power!" Andre cried out in surprise from within the space. He stared at the statue before him as though he were practically drooling. "Xiao Yi, hurry, hurry! I have a feeling that if I absorb the Faith Power on him, one thousandth of my divine power can be restored! Awooo, awooo, awooo..."

"Calm down, calm down." Qin Yi roared inwardly, constantly soothing Andre. "There are too many people here right now, so it isn't convenient. We'll be studying here anyway. We can come back some night when no one is around."

"This man is Yun Tian, the Empire's most powerful Battle Song Priest. It is said that at the height of his strength, one battle song could hold back an army of a million. He stood alone against countless troops and horses. Every Battle Song Priest in the Empire regarded him as their goal. Dad believes that one day, you'll definitely become as amazing as he was." Qin Huai spoke as he looked at Qin Yi encouragingly, smiling gently.

"Battle Song Priest?" Qin Yi raised his brows. The term felt inexplicably familiar.

"Yes, Yun Tian, the Emperor of Battle Songs." Qin Huai confirmed again. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Qin Yi immediately shook his head with a smile. Could he say that it reminded him of the setting from some novel on a certain website? Damn it, had he transmigrated into a fanfiction world?

Of course not. After Qin Huai took him around the entire military academy, Qin Yi discovered that only the term Battle Song Priest matched the setting from that certain website in his memories. Should he marvel that art truly came from life? The future era, passionate mecha battles, all that stuff...

A flash of insight struck Qin Yi. Battle Song Priests? The Faith Power within statues?

Praise be to the great authors of every website—he had finally figured out how to gather Faith Power!

Author's note: The profession of Battle Song Priest was indeed inspired by a certain novel on a certain website.

But I read it so long ago that I truly cannot remember which novel it was.

Staring at the sky...

Chapter 43: Enrollment

Chapter 43

A week later, it was September 1st, the day schools began. Qin Yi packed simply, took his luggage, and headed to First Military Academy. Qin Huai followed behind him eagerly, insisting on carrying his luggage. As they walked, he kept muttering, "How about I speak to your principal and have you come home to live instead? You only just came back home, and before you've even had time to settle in, you're going off to school..."

"Can't I come home every Friday? It's only four or five days... Be good!" Qin Yi stopped, turned around, and patted Qin Huai's shoulder soothingly. Qin Huai looked at his carefree expression, as though he were humoring a child, and could not decide whether to laugh or cry.

"Xiao Yi..."

"Mommy! Don't be so reluctant to part with me. I'll be back very soon!" Qin Yi suddenly rose onto his tiptoes and kissed Qin Huai's forehead. Seeing Qin Huai freeze instantly, he smiled and said, "I'll try to contact you every day! So don't worry."

Then he smiled, waved, and turned to enter the school.

Schools in the future era looked much the same as those on Earth during the start of term. Every student was followed by groups of parents. Since First Military Academy Affiliated School was a boarding school, the parents carried huge bundles and bags as though they were fleeing famine. Apart from the buildings that clearly carried a science-fiction atmosphere, the scene gave Qin Yi a familiar feeling. Even the hidden unease of being alone in an unfamiliar plane—Andre did not count as a person—faded considerably.

While Qin Yi was lost in sentiment for that brief moment, Father Qin Huai, who had finished staring blankly, caught up to him. Walking to Qin Yi's side, he said, "Let's go report to the Music Department first!"

Qin Yi nodded obediently.

Although they were both ordinary Music Departments, the Music Department at First Military Academy Affiliated School differed from the rest. Because it recruited students of excellent quality every year, gifted students would be gathered into advanced classes within three years, where specialized teachers would instruct them in the study of battle songs. When they advanced to university, they could directly enter First Military Academy's Battle Song Department. Of course, even those without the talent to become Battle Song Priests could still become singers after graduating from First Military Academy Affiliated School's Music Department. At the very least, their income would be guaranteed.

Therefore, when the two arrived at the Music Department registration desk, the place was already packed shoulder to shoulder in a sea of people.

Qin Yi and Qin Huai stood outside the crowd, looking at the registration desk drowned beneath the stream of people at the far end. They exchanged a glance and shrugged helplessly.

"How about we report directly to the principal's office?" After waiting for a while, Qin Huai suggested.

For something as minor as registration, directly disturbing the dean was like having a civil servant bother the head of the local government just to arrange a job in a later era. Wasn't that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Qin Yi shook his head in disapproval. He did not want everyone to know, before his first day of school, just how impressive his family was...

It was better to keep a low profile, lest someone swindle him out of money and seduce him. He still had to keep himself pure as jade for his dear big brother!

Eh? Did I just think of something incredible? Qin Yi blinked in confusion and subconsciously scratched his head.

While the two were caught in this dilemma, a young man in a neat suit, wearing a First Military Academy Affiliated School badge, approached them. Seeing Qin Yi and Qin Huai, he asked with a smile, "May I ask if you are Young Master Qin Huai and Young Master Qin Yi?"

"Yes." Qin Huai nodded with a smile.

"Hello, I'm Chen Yuan from the Academic Affairs Office. Principal Chen asked me to receive you." Having received confirmation, Chen Yuan spoke with a smile.

"Then thank you very much." Qin Huai said casually. Then he took Qin Yi along and followed Chen Yuan toward the dormitory area.

"Due to the school's special regulations, all dormitory buildings apart from faculty housing have four students to a room. However, in consideration of General Qin's request, we currently have two arrangements for Student Qin Yi. One is for him to live alone in faculty housing. The other is for us to arrange three roommates of equal status and compatible personalities for him. May I ask what Young Master Qin Huai thinks?" Chen Yuan asked with a smile as they walked.

"I'll live in the student dormitory like everyone else." Before Qin Huai could speak, Qin Yi answered on his own. "After all, I'll be staying at school for three years. If everyone else has roommates while I don't, wouldn't that be lonely?"

"Then we'll do as Xiao Yi says." Qin Huai said indifferently. In truth, he feared that someone might bully Qin Yi, but Qin Yi was right. The more isolated he was, the more likely he would be bullied.

"Then I'll arrange a room for Young Master Qin Yi." Chen Yuan immediately continued after hearing Qin Huai's words. "Please come this way."

The dormitory building Chen Yuan arranged for Qin Yi was in a very good location. At least, according to Chen Yuan's introduction, it was not far from the teaching area, library, cafeteria, or entertainment district. As for the facilities inside, they were all identical, so there was nothing to choose from. Still, Chen Yuan thoughtfully found Qin Yi a room facing the sports field. Watching the crowds exercising there during leisure time would make for decent entertainment.

Qin Yi was very satisfied, and Qin Huai was satisfied to see Qin Yi's pleased expression. Chen Yuan was also satisfied by the fact that both of them were satisfied. Thus, everyone was happy as the most crucial issue—the lodging—was settled. When choosing beds, Qin Yi instinctively chose the left-side bed by the window. It had been his spot back when he boarded at school during his final year of high school on Earth. In a sense, Qin Yi was still quite nostalgic. Seeing that Qin Yi had chosen his bed, Qin Huai followed Chen Yuan to find the wardrobe and desk corresponding to it. After they put Qin Yi's luggage away, the other residents of the dormitory arrived as well.

When Xiao Suo pushed open the door, he saw the three people inside and paused in astonishment. He had thought he had completed the procedures quickly enough, yet someone had been even faster. It seemed the other party's family background was no ordinary one either. At that thought, Xiao Suo's eyes darkened.

"A Suo, why are you blocking the doorway? Hurry up and go in. Your father and mother need to help you unpack!" A soft, sweet voice sounded from behind Xiao Suo.

"Oh, got it." Xiao Suo responded, then walked into the dormitory.

Behind him followed a petite woman around 158 centimeters tall, with sweet features. However, it was impossible to tell her age. After all, technology in this plane was too advanced; the average lifespan had already surpassed five hundred years. Powerful people like Qin Yuanlie, or descendants of influential aristocratic families like the Qin family, could live beyond eight hundred years.

Behind the woman followed a tall, straight-backed, handsome man. Every movement he made was crisp and resolute, carrying the air of a soldier.

When the man saw Qin Huai, he was clearly startled. Then, with an indifferent expression, he greeted him. "Qin Huai."

"Lieutenant Xiao." Qin Huai responded just as indifferently.

Seeing this situation, the petite woman immediately stepped forward with a smile and made polite conversation. "So it's Young Master Qin Huai. It's rare for one of your family's younger generation to come study here too. That's wonderful. The two children are in the same dormitory, so they can look after each other. May I ask who this young man is to you?"

"He is my son." Qin Huai glanced at Qin Yi and said proudly.

Hearing Qin Huai's words, a flicker of surprise passed through the Xiao couple's eyes. Then they introduced themselves as though nothing had happened. "This is our son, Xiao Suo."

"I'm Qin Yi." Qin Yi replied with a smile. "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."

The Xiao couple's surprise deepened upon hearing Qin Yi's greeting, but they did not ask anything. They merely smiled in response. "Hello. Since you and Xiao Suo will be sharing a dormitory from now on, you must look after each other."

"Of course." Qin Yi answered.

As they chatted, the remaining two people assigned to the dormitory arrived as well. They were Chen Mo and Nemesis. Qin Yi was rather curious about Nemesis's surname. However, seeing the four sets of parents chatting amiably, he guessed they all knew one another and had fairly good relations. No wonder Chen Yuan had confidently promised to find Qin Yi roommates who would get along with him!

For aristocratic families with close ties, no matter what happened, their descendants' relationships could not be too poor. At the very least, things would appear harmonious on the surface. It seemed this was the case in every plane, regardless of how advanced it was.