Under the strange stares of the entire year, Zhan Pingchuan accepted the stack of money. Only his faith in laying down the butcher’s knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot allowed him to force out a smile. “Fine. Thanks. The people will always remember your selfless public spirit. If there’s nothing else, I’ll pass away now.”
Before leaving, Tang Li sighed and racked his brains for something encouraging to say. “You don’t need to feel inferior. Stealing bicycles is wrong, but that’s all in the past. It’s never too late for your dad to reform.”
Zhan Pingchuan looked dead inside. “…I’ll thank you on my father’s behalf.”
After Tang Li left, Zhan Pingchuan ignored the classmates whispering around them and dropped into the seat beside Lance. He rubbed his face for a long time before forcing out, “Listen. My family isn’t actually that poor. I…”
He looked down and discovered Lance secretly using his phone browser to search: Desert City economic conditions.
Fortunately, Zhan Pingchuan had sharp eyes and 20/20 vision. At a glance he saw the encyclopedia entry glaring back at him: [Desert City lies in the western Federation and has since ancient times been a bitter, barbarous wasteland……]
“Who the fuck wrote this encyclopedia entry?” Zhan Pingchuan ignited instantly, ready to look through the edit history that night and fight the author for three hundred rounds.
Lance guiltily put away his phone. Meeting Zhan Pingchuan’s judging stare, he smiled innocently. “It’s fine. I didn’t believe it.”
Half of Zhan Pingchuan’s fire went out at once. Still suspicious, he confirmed, “Really?”
Lance gave the remaining blue streaks in Zhan Pingchuan’s hair a meaningful glance and replied tactfully, “Really. Judging from how you dress, you’re probably not that poor.”
The dye and all those studs and chains were pretty good quality. His father probably stole electric-bike batteries. Ordinary bicycles were not worth much.
Only then did Zhan Pingchuan relax. “As long as you don’t believe it.”
He did not care whether anyone else thought his family had money. But if Lance truly believed he was poor, wouldn’t that mean Lance thought he could not afford a hundred-square-meter bathroom?
At that moment, the low chatter in the crowd suddenly rose wave after wave.
“Holy shit! Is that real?”
“No way!”
Zhan Pingchuan’s face darkened with impatience.
In this world, so many Awakeners killed people without anyone caring. Was bicycle theft really worth this much excitement?
Then someone said, “Isn’t the Xingzhou Challenge Cup supposed to happen after freshman year? We haven’t learned anything yet.”
Zhan Pingchuan raised a brow.
His misunderstanding cleared.
He knew about the Xingzhou Challenge Cup. It was held once a year, usually during the summer between first and second year. The university specifically selected relatively safe dungeons for students to compete in.
The most vicious creatures encountered were usually only B-rank. As long as the students understood teamwork, returning safely was not a problem.
The team ranked first on the annual scoreboard not only received one hundred thousand yuan in cash, but also a precious internship opportunity with the federal government.
Rumor had it many current senior officials in Blue Hub and Red Saha had first established connections with the federal government through this competition.
Even among the résumés Ghost Eye Guild received each year, many students listed their Challenge Cup ranking as proof of strength.
But with Blue Hub having suffered disaster after disaster, Xingzhou University suddenly launching the Challenge Cup now sounded far from innocent.
Zhan Pingchuan said nothing. His fingers tapped aimlessly on the desk.
He sensed an invisible pressure, as though a cruel, cold-blooded bird of prey had opened its eyes nearby and was staring directly at the center of the whirlpool.
“The notice says the rules change this year. Freshmen have to enter a dungeon immediately after enrollment as a placement test.”
“But I don’t know anything! I can’t even tell what rank a strange beast is. That’s supposed to be taught next semester in Strange Beast Identification and Weaknesses.”
“What are you afraid of? The dungeon at Blue Hole Reservoir is only C-rank. That means this competition is much easier. I’ve killed C-rank beasts before.”
“Don’t brag. Lots of people don’t come from wealthy families. They’ve never entered a dungeon at all and haven’t even synthesized a first-stage ability.”
“Could those of you from rich families who’ve been padding your résumés with dungeon trips since childhood shut up? We get it, you’re special.”
“Exactly. You’re only B-rank or C-rank anyway. Your ceiling isn’t that high. Zhan Pingchuan’s family may collect scrap, but he’s A-rank. He has way more future potential than you.”
Zhan Pingchuan: “………………”
Are we seriously still doing this?
The room remained noisy, but Lance narrowed his eyes without comment.
Of course he knew this Challenge Cup had another purpose. But if the authorities had chosen to force every freshman to participate, that meant they themselves were uncertain. At most, they held some suspicion or baseless conjecture.
Besides, the reward was undeniably tempting: two weeks interning inside the federal government.
Getting through the high walls surrounding the restricted district was nearly impossible without a legitimate identity. Lance genuinely wanted to use this chance to see what kind of person Oliver—the man who submitted that request—actually was.
A playful look entered Lance’s face.
If someone wanted to die, why not commit suicide? Why borrow the Black Lantern Society’s blade instead?
Wind rose unexpectedly outside. A dense cloud was carried across half the sun.
Shadow spilled like water from a broken dam and covered both their brows.
Inside the Xingzhou University president’s office, Si Hongche wore his military leather coat loosely over his shoulders. His broad frame held the coat open. The ornate dark-blue uniform beneath was embroidered with the medals and honors he had accumulated over the years.
Time had left faint marks between his brows, but those small lines did nothing to diminish his attractiveness. Instead, they carved greater severity and authority into him.
Among Blue Hub officials of his age, his appearance was unusually striking.
His nose bridge was high, his eyes deep-set, his lips not particularly thin. At first glance, the contours suggested warmth and romance, but the effect was diluted by the hard angles of his jaw.
Even sitting silently, he radiated unshakable intimidation.
At the moment, however, his expression was gloomy and he was clearly distracted.
“Director Si, I still believe this matter needs further discussion. Most healing-type freshmen have not even mastered a first-stage ability. In an emergency, they will not be able to rescue anyone in time. I’m worried the students could suffer incalculable casualties.”
He Jing’en finished speaking and watched Si Hongche. He remained smiling and good-tempered, looking like a habitual peacemaker who neither angered others nor became angry himself.
Si Hongche, however, was lost in thought and did not immediately respond.
The university president’s gaze moved between them. Finally, he shifted his chair loudly enough to bring Si Hongche back. “Director Si?”
Only then did Si Hongche look over. He seemed to replay He Jing’en’s words before studying him with an unreadable gaze. “People outside say Dean He has no ambition. From what I see, you’re actually quite sincere toward your students.”
He Jing’en waved both hands, smiling until his face creased. “You know our college already has very few students. If another batch dies, who am I supposed to teach?”
Si Hongche’s eyes sharpened, his tone carrying a threat. “Dean He needn’t worry. Have you forgotten your favorite student is still with Blue Hub?”
He Jing’en’s aged eyelids twitched. His expression tightened briefly before he smiled again. “I still haven’t thanked Director Si for your generosity in sparing that unforgivable criminal’s life.”
Si Hongche scoffed. “He was my classmate, after all. No need for thanks, Dean He.”
He Jing’en nodded vaguely, but did not raise his eyes again.
Once the Challenge Cup arrangements were settled, Si Hongche stood and left. The moment he stepped outside, the Blue Hub personnel waiting there immediately followed.
Si Hongche strode forward with a grim gaze. Even when he passed the wall displaying distinguished alumni, he did not slow for an instant.
Had he turned his head slightly, he would have seen an eighteen-year-old photograph still perfectly preserved behind glass.
In the photo, Oliver smiled brilliantly, soft blond hair glowing. Both arms were locked around Si Hongche’s neck as he hung from him like a koala.
And Si Hongche had indulged the mischief with gentleness.
When Si Hongche reached his vehicle and saw the quiet figure curled inside, the darkness in his face slowly receded.
“Back to Blue Hub.”
He gave the order to his subordinate, then opened the car door.
The moment the door opened, Oliver flinched instinctively.
Si Hongche looked down at him, seized his chin without discussion, and forced him down beneath the seat. As he unzipped his trousers, he deliberately humiliated him. “Your mentor asked whether you’ve been living well. I told him I keep you very well fed.”
Oliver’s face immediately lost all color. He shook violently, teeth biting deep bruises into his cracked lips.
Vroom!
The engine roared to life. The black armored four-wheel-drive government vehicle pulled away. Si Hongche leaned back and looked indifferently out the window.
At the same time, Lance and Zhan Pingchuan were passing through layer after layer of Blue Hub patrols on their way to the cafeteria.
Both were lost in thought.
Zhan Pingchuan looked lazy and relaxed, yet his eyes searched with predatory sharpness for the source of the threat.
S-rank powerhouses could sense one another subtly. His instinct told him that person was nearby. He needed to know who it was and what they intended next.
Lance swept his gaze over the inspectors moving in disciplined chaos and noticed that, almost unconsciously, they kept glancing toward one particular center point.
The patrol numbers had increased again. That was abnormal unless an important person had arrived on campus—and that important person was the key to why the Challenge Cup had been opened early.
Reaching a decision, Lance hardened his heart. His fingers moved to the bridge of his nose and pushed his glasses slightly upward. Then, pretending shyness, he asked, “Student Zhan, did you get hard last night?”
At that exact moment, the government SUV pulled from its parking space, spraying dust as it sped past Lance.
As the vehicle passed, Lance looked through the Outer God’s eyes and clearly saw a Death-Oath Curse glowing gold on Si Hongche inside the car.
In that flash, Si Hongche’s head snapped up. He sensed the aura of an extremely dangerous S-rank Awakener right beside him.
He immediately pushed Oliver away and straightened. But the powerful S-rank aura suddenly dissolved into complete chaos, falling apart in every direction.
Zhan Pingchuan: #%&*&#@&……
Only after a long moment did Si Hongche slowly lower his guard.
Apparently it was not some S-rank powerhouse. Just an Alpha going insane because his susceptible period was approaching.