novelraw Chapter 113: Writing a Song for Me? (Treat this as a side story)
Chapter 113: Writing a Song for Me? (Treat this as a side story)
On their way to the school gates, the group drew quite a crowd of onlookers.
Among them were quite a few of Fly's fans, who eagerly clamored to snap a few photos with him.
"Fly sure is popular," Jett murmured, feeling more than a little envious deep down.
Even though he had been training hard, ever since starting high school, he had also begun to look forward to experiencing a sweet romance.
"What's there to be envious of? At this rate, I'll have to start wearing sunglasses and a mask just to come to school." As Fly spoke, something suddenly occurred to him, and he turned to Mr. Carter. "By the way, Mr. Carter, The Jade State League won't happen to be broadcast live, will it?"
Hearing this, the corners of Mr. Carter's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smug smile. "It's far more than just that. Even the television stations in other states will be broadcasting it simultaneously."
"If you actually manage to secure a high ranking, not only do you get to stand on the podium, but you also get to sing a song."
"Sing a song? What kind of song?" Fly was momentarily stunned.
Good grief, he thought. Isn't this a world where martial arts reign supreme?
Why in the world do you get to sing just because you ranked high?
Isn't that just a bit too ridiculous?
"Our Star City's anthem, naturally."
Although Star City was just an ordinary city within the Jade State, with transportation, medical facilities, and an education system that couldn't compare to a major metropolis like Sovereign City, Mr. Carter had never once looked down on it.
This was the very land that had raised him.
This was his homeland.
He possessed the pride of being a citizen of Star City.
"Our city's anthem, The Chant of Star City," Mr. Carter declared with a hint of pride.
Fly: "???"
Seeing Mr. Carter's smug expression, dark lines formed on Fly's face. It's just a city anthem, is there really a need to get so worked up over it?
What Fly hadn't expected even more was that, perhaps moved by Mr. Carter's words...
Genevieve actually parted her ruby lips and began to sing aloud.
"O what is the song you once sang for me?"
"A tale of the North, by the starlit sea."
"Beneath the night sky where the bright stars fall,"
"Gold leaves drift down at the silver waves' call."
...
"Though winter arrives with its mantle of snow..."
"The boughs shall awaken, the green leaves shall grow."
"Upon this fair land where the starlight will cleave, the warmth of the spring shall nevermore leave."
...
Fly stared blankly at the side of Genevieve's face. Perhaps it was because she practiced the martial arts of The Resonant Sect, but he found her singing voice to be exceptionally melodic.
Before he knew it, the entire song had been sung, and Genevieve finally noticed Fly's gaze.
"What is it?" Genevieve asked, turning toward Fly.
"It's nothing. I just didn't expect your singing to be so moving," Fly said. "It almost makes me want to write a song for you."
The majority of the people in this world were focused on studying martial arts, meaning the entertainment industry wasn't particularly developed.
Countless catchy tunes from Fly's previous life simply didn't exist in this world.
It got to the point where Fly couldn't even listen to some music to unwind during his downtime.
Hearing Genevieve's voice now gave him a profound sense of nostalgia, inevitably sparking the thought of writing a few songs for her.
Besides, what if it blew up on TT?
He could make a decent amount of money on the side.
And with more money, he could afford better resources for his cultivation.
It was simply a flawless plan.
But, Genevieve, completely unaware of his true intentions, couldn't help but feel her pretty face flush red. "Huh?"
Fly wants to write a song for me?
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Why?
Come to think of it, after spending so much time together recently, she had to admit that Fly was genuinely a striking young man.
He possessed an elegant and refined bearing, a handsome face, and a well-proportioned, lean physique. Whenever she got close to him, he even smelled incredibly nice.
In terms of martial arts talent, Fly was undeniably the number one figure in Star City High right now; absolutely no one could hold a candle to him.
The only reason the rest of them were receiving guidance from Grandmaster Muse was entirely because they were riding on his coattails.
She had even heard that a girl named Eileen had specifically created a fan club for him, and in just a few short days, its membership had swelled to a staggering one thousand people!
Furthermore, it strictly accepted only female fans. Joining the group required not only a verbal application but also a video verification.
It just went to show how insanely popular Fly was.
Up until now, Genevieve had always viewed Fly strictly as a comrade-in-arms against Lysander Thorne and a reliable partner in martial arts competitions. But today, it seemed as though that dynamic had subtly shifted.
"Speaking of which," Genevieve said, quickening her pace to catch up to him. She patted Fly on the shoulder. "Since you're so popular, do you happen to have a girlfriend right now?"
The moment those words were spoken, Jett and Mr. Carter's ears perked right up. Even 'Emperor' Valerius had a slightly peculiar look on his face.
Who could possibly resist such juicy gossip?
Valerius even suspected that Fly was merely playing the part of a straight-laced guy, while secretly maintaining a harem behind closed doors, much like those upper-crust playboys who flitted from one mixer to the next.
"What? A girlfriend?" Fly turned to glance at Genevieve, finding her question to be utterly absurd.
To be completely honest, during his time at Star City High, Fly had indeed received his fair share of love letters.
Countless girls had also gone to great lengths to get his contact info just to send him confessions of love.
A fair number had even gone so far as to directly wire him money, claiming they wanted to treat him to dinner.
It left Fly feeling incredibly speechless at times.
It wasn't that he didn't understand the intentions of these young women, but at this current stage in his life, romance was the last thing on his mind.
He had already transmigrated into a world of martial arts—who had time for dating?
"Nope," Fly answered without a second thought.
"Seriously?" 'Emperor' Valerius leaned in closely, having fully transformed into a gossip reporter. "With your looks and your insane martial arts talent, there should be tons of girls confessing to you. Could it be that your standards are just too high, and they aren't catching your eye?"
"Don't sweat it. I can introduce you to some outstanding young ladies from the Tarantino family. You can spend some time together, foster a connection, and who knows? Sparks might fly."
Fly: "???"
Jett: "???"
Genevieve: "Bro, there's absolutely no need for that."
Truth be told, Valerius' motives were transparently clear. If Fly were to hook up with a girl from the Tarantino family, his own clan would undoubtedly gain the backing of a young genius. Furthermore, Fly would definitely side with him, giving him another weighty bargaining chip when the time came to fight for the position of the main family's heir.
But, Valerius wasn't the type to shamelessly badger someone. Seeing the expression on Fly's face turn sour, he immediately dropped the subject. He let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Don't mind me. I'm just shooting the breeze."
Fly, naturally, saw right through Valerius' scheme. He shot Valerius a look and declared, "A true man's ambition should surge forward like a mighty river flowing into the sea. Why squander it lingering in the soft embrace of romance?"
This statement left everyone simultaneously stunned. But judging by Fly's imposing aura, it certainly didn't seem like he was joking.
"Well said, Fly." Mr. Carter was the first to react, feeling that Fly's words were absolutely brilliant.
Spot on.
A true man's ambition should surge forward like a mighty river flowing into the sea. Why squander it lingering in the soft embrace of romance?
An exceptional young man like Fly ought to dedicate himself to cultivation and strive to elevate his strength.
Once he had made a name for himself and acquired formidable abilities, only then would he encounter someone truly worthy of him.
As a teacher of Martial Studies, he had seen far too many students sabotage their cultivation progress by wasting time on dating. Besides, fleeting romances rarely lasted; examples of passionately in-love couples going their separate ways after graduation were a dime a dozen. Countless vows of eternal devotion usually ended in nothing more than a heavy sigh.
However, what escaped everyone's notice was the subtle shift that flickered in Genevieve's eyes the moment Fly spoke those words.
Shortly after, Mr. Carter led Fly and the others to the school gates, where Cynthia and her driver had already been waiting for a while.
"By the way, Mr. Carter, if you come with us, who's going to teach the Rocket Class?" Even after getting into the car, Genevieve didn't forget to inquire about their lessons.
"Relax. Star City High is a key Martial Academy, after all. They wouldn't fumble something as simple as this. While I'm away, other teachers will step in to cover the classes. It's called making special arrangements for special circumstances."
"Plus, it's not like I'm never coming back."
"And I'm not going to be lingering around Grandmaster Muse's house the whole time either. My only job is to ensure you lot get there safely."
"Oh, and one more thing..."
Mr. Carter made sure to issue a reminder. "The midterms are only a week away. Don't let yourselves get entirely distracted by The Jade State League."
"Understood, Mr. Carter," Genevieve nodded. Long before the semester even started, during the summer break, she had already mastered all the relevant theoretical knowledge for their first term. Acing the written portion of the midterms wouldn't be a problem at all.
As for the Martial Trials... aside from Fly and Valerius, was there really anyone else in the entire freshman class who could pose a threat to her?
Valerius and Jett also possessed a solid foundation thanks to their family backgrounds, so they weren't overly anxious about the midterms either.
On the contrary, it was actually Fly whose grasp of Martial Studies theory was relatively weak. However, equipped with the "Learning Genius" talent granted by his system, pulling off a successful last-minute cram session wouldn't be an issue for him.
After dropping Fly and the gang off at Grandmaster Muse's villa, Mr. Carter excused himself and left.
Cynthia thoughtfully prepared a lounge for them and even took them on a tour of the training grounds.
Truth be told, the facilities here were even more comprehensive and luxurious than the ones at Star City High.
The last time he had visited, Fly had only caught a brief glimpse of the study, the dining room, and the basement. This time around, he truly grasped the sheer scale of Muse's immense wealth and influence.
Before long, Muse navigated his electric wheelchair over to them.
"Whoooa! It's Grandmaster Muse! It's actually Grandmaster Muse!" Jett hollered, trembling with excitement.
"Restrain yourself. Mind your manners," 'Emperor' Valerius chided, gently tugging at Jett's sleeve with a look of displeasure. Still, out of basic courtesy, he stepped up to Muse and offered a shallow bow. "Greetings, Grandmaster Muse. Valerius, of the Tarantino family, is here to pay his respects."
Toward a living legend like Muse, even 'Emperor' Valerius harbored a deep sense of reverence.
"Hello, Grandpa Muse," Genevieve also stepped forward, offering an incredibly sweet and respectful greeting.
Because her aunt and Cynthia were childhood friends, Genevieve had actually met Muse quite a few times when she was little.
"You must be Roland York's little granddaughter, aren't you?" A rare, gentle smile graced Muse's face as he looked at Genevieve.
"Come to think of it, it's been quite a few years since I last saw your grandfather."