novelraw Chapter 403: I'm Back
Chapter 403: I'm Back
Su Zhan wanted his name to become a banner.
He wanted all hopeful people of Daxia to place their faith in him.
At that time, anyone who wanted to move against him would have to first weigh whether they could withstand the backlash of the will of hundreds of millions.
The more momentum he borrowed, the more solid his foundation would be, and the more confidence he would have for future actions.
For the public good, it boosted morale and aligned with righteousness.
For personal gain, it ensured safety and paved the way for the future.
All of this planning had become clear the moment he accepted the trophy.
The competition concluded.
The clamor echoed behind him.
Su Zhan, holding the weighty trophy, walked step by step down from the arena and towards that crimson-colored area.Wang Mingyuan stood there. Usually gentle and refined, his eyes were slightly reddened at this moment.
He looked at this student who had been absent for over five years, who had experienced life and death, and who now had returned like a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss.
A thousand words were stuck in his throat, ultimately transforming into nothing more than an action of spreading his arms.
Su Zhan's steps paused briefly before he quickly stepped forward. Without any superfluous words, he similarly spread his arms and embraced Wang Mingyuan tightly.
This embrace was over five years overdue.
It contained too many unspeakable emotions.
The relief of surviving a calamity, the worry of life-and-death separation, the excitement of today's reunion, and that deep-seated, unchanged bond between master and disciple.
Wang Mingyuan patted Su Zhan's back firmly and said in a low voice, "It's good you're back... it's good you're back!"
The embrace was brief yet profound.
When they separated, both men's eyes had regained their composure.
Su Zhan's gaze shifted to the three old friends standing nearby.
Liu Ziming grinned, wanting to say something witty, but found his throat a bit tight. He punched Su Zhan's shoulder forcefully and laughed, "You brat... you really know how to hide!"
Xu Hao said nothing, merely stepping forward and giving Su Zhan a solid hug as well, expressing everything through action.
Feng Jue looked at Su Zhan, paused for a second, then also stepped forward. His movement was slightly stiff as he hugged Su Zhan and whispered in his ear, "Impressive."
No excessive words, no sentimental tears.
The camaraderie between men is often vented most thoroughly in these simple embraces and brief words.
A smile, the first truly meaningful one since he took the stage, appeared on Su Zhan's face. "I'm back."
Just as Su Zhan and Wang Mingyuan and the others were immersed in the atmosphere of reunion.
A staff member dressed in the Council's standard uniform walked over quickly, bowed slightly to Su Zhan, and said respectfully:
"Mr. Su Zhan, congratulations on winning the Grand Competition championship. The Joint Supreme Conference of the Council and the Military Department requests your immediate presence at Lingxiao Pavilion for a meeting."
These words instantly froze the previously warm atmosphere.
The smile on Wang Mingyuan's face slowly faded.
Feng Jue, Xu Hao, and Liu Ziming also immediately understood what this meeting signified.
This was definitely not a simple celebration or commendation, but the final review regarding Su Zhan's "return from the dead" and the shocking source of his strength!
It was the final judgment concerning his dual identities of "Su Zhan" and "Chen Qing"!
The air grew heavy.
Wang Mingyuan took a deep breath, looked at Su Zhan, patted his shoulder firmly, and said in a deep voice, "Go. Remember, no matter what they ask, you only need to remember one thing.
You are my student, Wang Mingyuan's student. You are Su Zhan of Vermilion Bird Academy. You are... one of us, humanity."
He emphasized the word "humanity" heavily, intending to remind Su Zhan to hold firm to his fundamental stance.
Feng Jue stepped forward, concise and to the point: "Strength is the best right to speak."
He believed that the power Su Zhan now possessed was itself the greatest bargaining chip.
Liu Ziming grinned: "Brother Su, don't be afraid. You're a national idol now. They wouldn't dare do anything to you. We'll wait here for you to come back and celebrate."
Xu Hao also nodded emphatically: "That's right. We're all here waiting for you."
Looking at these four mentors and partners who gave him unconditional trust and support, the last ripple of unease in Su Zhan's heart settled.
He nodded, his face regaining its usual calm.
"Don't worry."
Su Zhan turned and followed the staff member.
Under the gaze of countless complex looks, he walked towards that Lingxiao Pavilion, symbolizing Daxia's highest authority.
His back was straight, his steps firm.
Fate always seems to enjoy playing jokes at the moment of long-awaited reunion.
Before the warmth of reunion could completely dispel the chill of five years of separation, before a proper greeting could even be spoken, the cold summons had already arrived.
One moment ago, they were master and disciple, close friends immersed in joy and excitement.
The next moment, they had to face a tremendous challenge concerning life, death, and future prospects.
On the way to Lingxiao Pavilion.
Su Zhan sat in the car.
He turned on his phone.
The screen lit up.
Countless message notifications and pushes flooded out, causing even the high-performance device to lag momentarily.
Su Zhan casually opened a few of the largest social media platforms and news portals.
The top ten spots on the trending charts were, without exception, all related to him:
Su Zhan, Ocean Realm at twenty-five...
Su Zhan, the King's Return...
The Pioneer of Daxia's New Era...
The Myth of the Five Great Academies' Grand Competition...
Su Zhan's Post-Match Comments: Daxia Must Win...
Su Zhan Fan Support Club Urgently Established...
Each topic was followed by billions of discussions.
Screenshots, GIFs, and video clips from various angles were being frantically reposted.
His final, simple yet overwhelmingly dominant strike had even been turned into various memes and slow-motion analyses.
There were all kinds of voices online.
"God Su! Give me a chance! I want to have your babies!"
"From today onwards, I am Su Zhan's most devout believer!"
"May I ask how Mr. Su Zhan broke through from Stream Realm to Ocean Realm within five years? Waiting online, quite urgent!"
"Big boss, do you still need a sidekick? The kind who graduated from a top university and can warm the bed!"
"After watching Su Zhan's match, I silently tore up my acceptance letter from a Five Great Academy..."
"Don't lose heart, person above. There's only one Su Zhan, but we can still strive to become better versions of ourselves! (Even though we'll never catch up.)"
Major media outlets, well-known commentators, and celebrities from all walks of life also joined the fray, all lavishing extreme praise on Su Zhan without exception.
They hailed him as Daxia's number one genius in three hundred years, the torch illuminating the Mist Era, the spiritual leader of the younger generation.
It could be said that at this moment, Su Zhan's name and image had swept through Daxia's entire online world with an unstoppable force, permeating every corner of society.
He was no longer merely a powerful Awakened individual, but a cultural phenomenon, a national idol carrying the hopes and adoration of countless people.
Su Zhan calmly turned off his phone, leaned back in the seat, and closed his eyes.
This was exactly what he wanted.
This immense prestige, this fervent public sentiment, would be his sturdiest shield and sharpest spear when facing the high-level inquiry next.