Huomu's resounding shout, full of resolve, rang through the quiet morning corridor like a thunderclap!
At the same time, he expertly bent his knees, ready to drop to them before Qiji with great conviction.
Fortunately, Qiji had anticipated this.
"Don't kneel!"
Quick as lightning, Qiji reached out just before Huomu's knees hit the floor, grabbed him by the back of his collar, and hauled him up like a chick.
"Don't go kneeling at the drop of a hat! A man's knees are worth their weight in gold. Don't you know that?"
But hearing this only made Huomu more determined. He struggled to "cash in" that gold and give it to Qiji:
"Qiji, if there really is gold beneath my knees, what better time to use it than now? Please accept my gold!"
"..."
Qiji conceded defeat.
He had never seen an anime protagonist like Huomu, one who actually treated kneeling as a tactic...
If this guy keeps kneeling at the drop of a hat, and the audience drops the show because they think the protagonist is too pathetic or spineless...
How are you going to compensate me for the lost Popularity Points, you bastard?!
In any case, Qiji gave in.
"All right, all right! Stop, stop! Whatever it is, I'll agree to it, okay?"
Qiji released Huomu's collar, his tone suggesting a helpless compromise.
Of course, that was just acting too.
In fact, Qiji couldn't wait to "guide" Huomu and help him grow stronger.
After all, in the original story, Lao Yue's most popular scenes were when he "arrived at a critical moment to save the day" and "guided Huomu to a breakthrough."
Now, the latter "role" was rightfully his to take over!
He could advance the plot, earn popularity, improve Huomu's impression of him, and even save Lao Yue, who hated trouble, the effort. It was killing several birds with one stone!
A world where everyone won had been achieved!
Since it was still early, there weren't many people in the livestream, and only a few comments drifted across the screen:
"Holy crap, you're streaming so early today? (Shocked)"
"Prisoner Ji, just keep spoiling him!"
"Streamer, streamer, why is your hair wet?"
"Do you even need to ask? Obviously, he just took a shower! But come to think of it, Hajiqi always wears a mask. Does he wash his face?"
Qiji took a moment to glance at the comments, and the corner of his mouth twitched beneath his mask.
These viewers really had... unusual priorities.
Of course he washed his face!
He washed it every day, thank you very much!
Who said wearing a mask meant he couldn't wash his face?
Was a mask really such an inconvenient thing?
Seeing that his "sure-win method" had indeed worked, Huomu didn't forget to look back at Setsuna and give her a look that said, Didn't I tell you Qiji was super nice?
Setsuna was speechless and responded with an undisguised roll of her eyes.
Huomu didn't mind. He turned back and began gathering his thoughts to explain why he had come.
He took a deep breath, his expression turning extraordinarily serious:
"Qiji, yesterday you asked me why I didn't have any strength. After I went back, I spent the whole night thinking about it!"
"Oh?" Qiji leaned against the doorframe, folded his arms, and assumed a listening posture.
"Did you figure it out, then?"
Huomu nodded vigorously, a proud look on his face.
Then, in a voice brimming with "wisdom," he announced loudly:
"Because I'm an idiot!
So the conclusion I came to was-
With a brain like mine, I can't figure it out on my own!"
Huomu paused, then fixed his blazing gaze on Qiji, his voice full of unreserved trust and admiration:
"But Qiji, you're smart! You're the smartest, most amazing person I've ever met!
So if it's you-
You can definitely tell me how to get stronger!"
Standing nearby, Setsuna was stunned by Huomu's "proud" declaration, her beautiful eyes going wide and round.
"?!"
What the hell?! Honestly!
Doesn't that mean you spent the whole night thinking and didn't come up with anything?!
How is that conclusion any different from not thinking at all?!
What are you so proud of?!
Huomu's logic was already incredible enough to Setsuna.
But Qiji's reaction made her question her life even more.
After hearing Huomu out, Qiji didn't make a snide remark or fall speechless. Instead, as though he had heard some profound wisdom, he reached out and patted Huomu on the shoulder, his face full of approval, even praise.
"Mm, not bad!"
Qiji's voice carried the satisfaction of someone who had found a promising student.
"I'm glad you figured it out."
Setsuna: "???"
Wait! What exactly did he figure out?!
Why am I starting to lose track of what you two are talking about?!
Of the three of them, Qiji was unquestionably a genius.
And now, the statement Huomu had just made, which she considered utterly idiotic, had actually won Qiji's approval.
Could it be...
The real idiot among the three of us is me?!
Setsuna fell into deep self-doubt.
Then the girl watched helplessly as the two, who seemed to have reached some kind of "understanding," marched off toward the academy's training ground.
When she came to her senses, she could only follow them, a dazed expression on her face.
When they reached the training ground, only a handful of people were scattered across the open grounds, doing their morning exercises.
Qiji had been pondering one question the whole way-
How exactly had Yuejian taught Huomu to grow stronger so quickly in the original story?
Unfortunately, Qiji only had a plot summary of the anime.
Many things in it were mentioned only in passing.
So Qiji didn't know the specific training methods or details.
In any case-
First, strike the right pose!
Qiji walked to the center of the training ground and stood with his hands behind his back, the morning breeze stirring the hem of his long coat.
He raised his head slightly and gazed into the distance, putting on an inscrutable air.
Huomu stood ramrod straight across from him, his eyes blazing, unable to wait.
It was as if he were saying-
Teach me already!
I'm completely ready!
Chapter 48: A Genius's Thinking
Qiji pondered briefly and looked at Huomu.
Huomu stood at attention, head high and chest out, his face full of anticipation.
Then-
The two began staring at each other, and kept it up for several minutes.
Setsuna yawned.
She really couldn't understand what these two were doing.
She hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and she was hungry.
After looking at the two, who were still "communicating telepathically," she decided not to make her stomach suffer any longer.
She quietly said, "I'm going to buy something to eat," and left the training ground alone.
About ten minutes later, Setsuna returned carrying two portions of soy milk and fried dough sticks.
And Qiji and Huomu's "targeted special training" was still stuck at the "staring at each other" stage.
Qiji looked at the breakfast in Setsuna's hands, and she naturally handed him one portion, saying:
"Here, Qiji, this one's yours."
Qiji took a sip of soy milk. "Sweet?"
Qiji didn't like sweet soy milk.
He was on the salty side.
"Huh? You prefer savory, Qiji?" Setsuna froze for a moment, then hurriedly said,
"Sorry... I'll go exchange it for you."
"No, don't trouble yourself." Qiji waved a hand.
Although he personally preferred savory flavors, when it was just to fill his stomach, the taste didn't matter.
He didn't like wasting food.
Seeing the two beside him eating breakfast, Huomu couldn't help swallowing. He looked eagerly at Setsuna, his meaning obvious.
Where was his portion?
Setsuna, however, merely glanced at him and treated him differently. "Buy your own."
"Oh..." Huomu scratched his head. He didn't mind, and immediately turned and jogged out of the training ground, even faster than Setsuna had gone earlier.
He returned shortly afterward with two portions of soy milk and one portion of fried dough sticks.
He respectfully held out the salty soy milk to Qiji, even observing every courtesy as he bowed and said:
"Master! This is for you!"
Qiji was just about to take it, but at that form of address, his hand trembled involuntarily, and he hurriedly stopped him: