42 Chapter 41: Spring (1/2)
The New Year arrived, I turned fourteen, and then spring finally came about. Before I knew it, I was already in the second year of my middle school.
”That's fast,” I muttered, stretching myself as I walked along the courtyard and toward the dormitory. Over the holidays, I had left Wu Ling Academy to visit my family, but as the new semester approached, I returned to school. In fact, I had only just returned to the dormitory yesterday, after bringing a bunch of stuff from home.
It really has been over a year since I've been reincarnated into this timeline, huh?
It didn't feel real to me somehow, almost as if this reality was a waking dream. Moreover, I had a thirty-year-old mind trapped within a fourteen-year-old body, never mind that I behaved childishly and like any other kid. But was I thirty-one now, or just fourteen? Well, it didn't matter, given how I was an immature person who behaved like the latter.
”Fei Wu! Hey!”
”Tong Xue.”
We exchanged greetings the moment we saw each other along the courtyard. Tong Xue raised a hand and gave me a high five. That stung…Tong Xue had grown considerably throughout the year, having trained under the Smart Shadow Sect.
”It's going to be a tougher year ahead,” Tong Xue informed me. I smiled in resignation.
”Well, yeah. Since when wouldn't it be more difficult as we grow older?”
”Heh. You've got a point.”
”Guys!”
We both turned around and caught sight of Zhu Jiao hurrying after us.
”Hey!”
”Zhu Jiao!”
”It's been a while, hasn't it?”
”Yeah. How was your holidays?”
”Good. Yours?”
As we walked along the courtyard, exchanging pleasantries and swapping stories of what we did during the holidays (which wasn't much, given how we mostly just returned home to spend time with our families), we proceeded toward the large hall building in the middle school division. Most of the other middle school students were also heading that way.
”We have an opening ceremony today, huh?” Zhu Jiao remarked. Tong Xue nodded.
”After this, we'll have martial arts training with our respective sects, and also to welcome the new sect disciples. There shouldn't be any theoretical classes today.”
”That sucks,” I muttered. The theoretical classes were the ones I looked forward to the most, given how I was a studious person. And since I didn't have a sect, I wouldn't have anyone to direct my training. I would have to carry out on my own.
Then again, I had been doing just that the entire year.
”The new first year students will be arriving anytime soon,” Tong Xue added, peering above the walls, as if he was expecting the flying boats to be soaring over them and landing within the campus grounds. I still remembered how the ride from last year.
”Man, how am I supposed to recruit anyone into the Golden Kirin Sect?” Zhu Jiao grumbled. ”While my sect is officially recognized, I don't have a master to pick new disciples.”
”Well, we can leave that to the teachers. All you need to do is show up and brag about your sect. it's the disciples who make their own decision.”
I listened, half-interested. This had nothing to do with me, after all. Since I was an Experimentalist who didn't belong to any sect, I was free to leave after the opening ceremony and do self-training. At least I was provided the resources from the academy. Having passed level 5 in the previous academic year, I was already receiving the maximum amount of resources allocated to a middle school student. I just had to prepare for level 6 the moment I went into high school, but that wouldn't be until two years later. A fairly long time, to be honest.
”Hey! You guys!”
This time it was Tang Qi Hong. She was strolling along the courtyard alongside Lian Rou, who also waved at us as she smiled. Though not as beautiful and outstanding as Tang Qi Hong, Lian Rou had a pretty face and a somewhat lovely figure. It was a pity that she was outshone by the other girls in class.
”Hello.”
”How have your holidays been?”
The five of us gathered and headed toward the hall where the opening ceremony took place. Even though it was a new year, we had been placed in the same class, so there was no reason to go our separate ways.
Apparently we would only be assigned to different classes when we were promoted to the high school division, as there would be a few tests and exams to decide whether we were qualified to enroll there, and it would be a whole new experience and curriculum.
I noticed that Tong Xue in particular was smitten with Lian Rou as he fell back to converse with her more. Lian Rou giggled at something he said, but my attention was directed toward Tang Qi Hong, who was sulking.
”Hey! Are you listening?”
”Yeah. Your Nine Tail Fox Sect is going to be recruiting new disciples today?”
”That's right!” Tang Qi Hong sighed dramatically. ”Even though it's the first day of school, we've to work. They really ought to give us a break!”
I decided not to point out that we had just returned from a fairly long vacation. From my experience, it was not a good idea to go against the flow. People only wanted to hear what they wanted to hear.
As for Zhu Jiao, he was glancing around conspicuously. Without reading his mind with my protagonist's privilege, I could already tell that he was looking for Bai Ning Xue. Not that it mattered. Even if he spotted her, he would continue to maintain his distance and watch her from afar instead of actually approaching her.
I wasn't sure what the deal between the two childhood friends were, but apparently Bai Ning Xue had a reputation to protect, so she stayed aloof and alone from everyone else. I honestly thought that was a bad thing, but it was none of my business.
”Oh, you guys are finally here!”
When we stepped into the hall, Ban Zhang waved at us. The class representative, he had come earlier than everyone else to locate our assigned positions and lead us there when the rest of the class entered.
”It's been tough on you,” I told him when we joined him. Ban Zhang shook his head with a broad smile.
”Nah. I'm just doing my job.”
”So you'll be class representative again this year?”
”Yeah, unless someone else wants the job.”
Unfortunately, no one wanted that job. It was a troublesome role, filled with responsibilities and other sorts of burden. I was grateful that Ban Zhang had risen to the role, meeting its demands perfectly without complaints. And from what I could see, he seemed to enjoy his duties as class representative tremendously.
We were really lucky to have him.
While we all stood around, waiting for the opening ceremony to begin, students continued to enter in dribs and drabs. Since there were only second years and third years, with the first year students arriving in boats to take the Star Constitution measurement exam in the main plaza, and the previous batch of third years having graduated, there weren't as many students as I thought there would be. Class 1-4 looked the same as ever, except…
”Where's Qi Fu Ren?”
Tong Xue shrugged. ”I dunno.”
Ever since our official match last year, and his expulsion from the White Tiger Sect, Qi Fu Ren had gone missing. I mean, he would still show up in class from time to time, meeting the bare minimum of attendances to ensure he didn't drop out and so that he could move onto the next year, but otherwise he behaved like the delinquent he always was. I heard that he had barely passed his final exams, but the teachers allowed him to scrape through since theoretical scores weren't as emphasized as the practical combat scores.
Surprisingly, despite me cutting off his arms and severing his qi vessels there, Qi Fu Ren had recovered quicker than anticipated and passed the practical combat exam with flying colors. Probably the only reason why he was able to pass.
”He probably won't come for the opening ceremony since he's no longer in a sect.”
Tang Qi Hong offered that suggestion, but I wasn't convinced. The guy had gotten creepier since his defeat, his eyes turning more and more murderous. Whenever I glanced at him, I felt an indescribable chill.
There was something up with that guy, but I just couldn't place my finger on what. Furthermore, my gut was telling me strongly that it had something to do with my premonition from about three or four months ago.
But without evidence, I can't do anything about it. I could very well be mistaken…
”Welcome back, middle school students.”
Xiao Zhang had appeared to make his announcement, his voice booming and shaking me out of my disturbed thoughts. Even though he had just delivered his speech to the high school section, and flew over to the middle school section in a single bound, he didn't seem to be out of breath. Rather, he was as excited and brimming with irresistible enthusiasm as ever.
”It's a new year for all of us. Time flies really quickly, huh? And I'm proud of all of you. Throughout this year, I've seen all of you have made remarkable progress in your cultivation and martial arts training. Keep it up!”
The students straightened, pleased at the praise they were receiving. Xiao Zhang continued to indulge us with his smile.
”You are all the hope upon which the future of this Wu Ling Academy rests upon. So I hope you can all continue working hard and endeavor toward a much higher stage than ever before! Remember, the academy's resources are at your disposal. The teachers and staff are all here to help. So don't hesitate to approach any of us! And I'm sure your sect masters and elders will continue to offer you maximum support! As for the Experimentalists, you have made me proud, even though you've to largely rely on self-training instead of learning under a master. You've displayed remarkable results and proven that you can compete on par with the Traditionalists!”
It was no secret that the Principal of Wu Ling Academy favored the Experimentalists, but since the Traditionalists already held an overwhelming advantage in the form of their sect's support and resources, no one complained about that. Even with the supposed favoritism, the Traditionalists continued to hold an edge over the Experimentalists, and they also outnumbered the latter faction by far. Xiao Zhang's attitude didn't make any difference.
Speaking of which, wouldn't Qi Fu Ren be counted as an Experimentalist?
It disturbed me that I would be grouped together with the likes of Qi Fu Ren, but I wasn't immature enough to obsess over that. Even as fellow Experimentalists, our modus operandi and values differed by too much. Much like the Traditionalists, the Experimentalists weren't a monolithic faction. There were splits and divisions between its ”members”.
”Well, since I'm going to have to take charge of the Star Constitution measurement examination for the new batch of first year students, I'll keep this speech short. In other words, continue the good work that you've been doing so far, and make the academy and your respective sects proud. I look forward to your growth.”
The students buzzed, thinking that the ceremony was at an end and we would be released. However, the majority of us knew that we would have to return to our sects to help with the recruitment process, to help draw the new first year students into their respective sects. In a way, it reminded me of clubs vying for the attention of new students.
”Oh, wait. One last announcement.”
Xiao Zhang held up his hand, silencing the excitement and murmurs. All the students turned to stare at him. As ever, Xiao Zhang had a flair for the dramatic, so he merely grinned and held his silence to up the suspense.