novelraw Chapter 9 : Chapter 9
Chapter 9 : Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Inside the pure white space, Ji Qing tapped the table with one hand in resignation.
He had not expected so many things to happen within just two days. From Xie Chang’an’s perspective, his situation looked extremely bleak; but from Ji Qing’s perspective, it felt like a straightforward power-fantasy trope.
It was probably the manga artist’s influence… Ji Qing thought.
Ji Qing returned to the forum and searched for information about the manga artist. He noticed that Yuexia Cao was known for having a “delicate art style and rich emotional expression,” and his recently completed short manga had even been centered around romance.
“No wonder,” Ji Qing remarked.
Perhaps because it was his first time attempting a long-form shonen manga, Yuexia Cao had not yet grasped the right approach. If it had been an experienced shonen creator, this part would probably have been handled more concisely.
However, Ji Qing had also managed to sort out the entire chain of events.
He continued reading.
The commotion between the two at the classroom entrance naturally attracted the attention of other students. Zhou Que immediately reserved the training ground on the spot, declaring that he would teach Xie Chang’an a lesson.
He skipped class on the spot and left. Xie Chang’an followed suit and skipped as well.
The students inside the classroom exchanged uneasy glances. In the end, the more restless ones slipped out before the teacher arrived, while the more obedient ones—along with those who had not yet come to class—remained for the lesson.
【Do you think the teacher might come and stop them?】
【Probably not】
【If the teacher really wanted to intervene, they would not have waited until things escalated】
【Waaah—】
【Such cliché character settings and such cliché plot. My toes are curling in embarrassment, but since I have already read this far, it feels like a waste not to continue…】
【This makes no sense. This is not even the classic trio setup】
【Do not be conservative in the cliché parts】
Ji Qing smiled silently.
He realized that at this point, the most entertaining part of the manga was actually the on-screen comments. Since he already knew the outcome of the story, the plot itself felt somewhat dull.
In the manga, the two arrived outside the training ground.
Zhou Que threatened, “You still have a chance to give up now. After all, my fire burns.”
Xie Chang’an replied calmly, “I have already experienced that.”
The atmosphere between them instantly turned tense.
Standing nearby, Gu Lingxue looked conflicted. She had already realized that the outside world was far more complicated than she had imagined, yet she did not know what she could do to resolve the situation peacefully.
While Gu Lingxue hesitated in confusion, the two entered the training ground side by side.
Blazing flames ignited in Zhou Que’s palm, illuminating his crimson eyes. Xie Chang’an pulled out his long saber and rushed toward him.
The first thing he faced was a fireball rushing toward him.
【I am sorry, protagonist. The opponent looks so cool… (guilty)】
【Holy crap】
【The author made the supporting character look so handsome】
【I never liked Zhou Que before, but this scene is truly impressive. Author… are you really going to have Class S defeated one by one?】
【Large-scale ranged damage vs close-range physical damage】
【I suddenly feel a bit sorry for Zhou Que, because Xie Chang’an must win. This battle has no suspense at all. If it does, then I must be talking nonsense】
【Please do not defeat Class S one by one】
【With such a good wasteland world setting, are you really satisfied drawing only this kind of plot, Yuexia Cao?】
“That really would be a pity…” Ji Qing said helplessly.
If the story only focused on face-slapping plots, the academy arc might drag on for a very long time. But that would feel both cliché and stiff, driving away many readers.
Why was Xie Chang’an’s perspective filled with nothing but this kind of content?
Ji Qing could not help laughing helplessly.
His own high school life had actually been quite fulfilling. He had met several interesting people.
Yet those interesting people were now playing villains in someone else’s story…
“Hahaha…”
Seeing the unaware Zhou Que in the manga, Ji Qing could not help laughing out loud.
Zhou Que quickly noticed Xie Chang’an’s breakthrough.
His first reaction was to step back and widen the distance. But Xie Chang’an immediately accelerated, swinging his saber straight toward him. This time he deliberately turned the blade to strike with the back of the weapon.
The sound of steel clashing suddenly rang through the air.
At the moment their gazes crossed, the two calmly evaluated each other. Xie Chang’an noticed that beneath Zhou Que’s charred sleeve, a metal bracer was exposed.
He was not someone who relied solely on fire.
That thought flashed through Xie Chang’an’s mind in an instant. He immediately adjusted his stance, clenched his teeth, and launched a fierce assault.
Zhou Que had many choices.
But Xie Chang’an had only one.
He had to remain in this Ability school!
【Zhou Que probably was not prepared, right? It is clear he can fight in close combat, but since Xie Chang’an uses a long saber, he probably does not dare counterattack easily. Otherwise he could get cut by the blade…】
【He could still go all out here, right?】
【The main issue is why Zhou Que would go all out. In this battle, only Xie Chang’an has no way to retreat and must win. Whether Zhou Que wins or loses does not matter to him】
【Did he lose because of mentality?】
【Um… could we develop Zhou Que into a teammate?】
【…You are quite bold】
【Defeat Class S one by one and recruit them as teammates, just like Pokémon!】
【You think Class S are Pokémon?!】
【Please do not write that plot… even the best fight scenes cannot support such a ridiculous storyline…】
“That is indeed ridiculous,” Ji Qing said, shaking his head.
Leaving Zhou Que aside, Shao Huayu clearly did not look like someone who would obediently settle matters through a fight. If he truly encountered such a conflict, he would probably choose to pressure others through his family’s influence.
Ji Qing continued reading.
The events unfolded just as the comments predicted. Xie Chang’an had no room to retreat, but Zhou Que had no reason to risk everything.
Thus, the battle gradually tilted in Xie Chang’an’s favor.
However, Zhou Que naturally did not give up.
He finally became serious.
Clenching his teeth, he waited for an opportunity like a lurking venomous snake.
What had originally been a casually declared challenge turned into a prolonged and grueling battle. Sometimes the advantage tilted toward Zhou Que, sometimes toward Xie Chang’an.
Both of them rapidly consumed their mental power and stamina.
In the end, Zhou Que’s mental power ran out first.
Finally, Xie Chang’an won.
【Such a satisfying fight scene】
【The opponent was a respectable rival, which makes the victory even more meaningful】
【My impression of Zhou Que has improved】
【His personality might not be great, but he fights well. No wonder he is from Class S】
【They will probably have to fight again during the individual competition (bitter smile)】
【Can he really not become a teammate? Aren’t friendships among boys usually formed through fighting and arguing?】
【Look at the surrounding students first. After embarrassing him in front of so many peers, the protagonist has completely torn relations with him. There is no chance】
【Zhou Que will definitely not tolerate Xie Chang’an later. I am more worried about how many people in Class S are close to him…】
“What a coincidence. I happen to know,” Ji Qing said meaningfully while staring at the last comment. “He knows everyone in Class S—and he even has particularly close friends.”
Shao Huayu would definitely intervene.
Based on Ji Qing’s rough understanding of him, the subsequent plot would probably shift toward a battle of wits.
But Ji Qing did not plan to let the face-slapping plot drag on too long.
He glanced at the popularity value displayed in the upper-left corner and concluded, “It seems that the storyline is not attractive enough, which is why the popularity value is not increasing.”
【Current Popularity Value: 2677】
【Popularity Value Shop Unlock Condition: Above 5000 Popularity】
His single appearance alone had once increased his popularity by 2344.
Yet after the manga had serialized for an entire month, his popularity had increased by less than 500.
Ji Qing had originally thought it was due to his limited appearances. But now his screen time had increased rather than decreased, and he even had individual close-up shots. It was likely influenced by the manga’s declining popularity.
If he wanted to earn more popularity, he would need to maintain the manga’s popularity.
That was normal.
Only popular manga could produce popular characters. The popularity of a character and the popularity of a manga naturally complemented each other.
“This is a bit awkward…” Ji Qing muttered.
Fortunately, the situation was not too bad.
After all, Ji Qing did not feel that there was anything he urgently needed to exchange. Still, he planned to have the system reveal the items in the Popularity Value Shop later.
Ji Qing opened the manga forum.
【HOT】【Where are the teammates you promised, author?! Do not tell me it was just empty hype!!!】
【The plot of Ability Hunter Academy is so cliché. I am disappointed】
【HOT】【Show your real skill, Yuexia Cao! You once drew that detective short manga famous for its “sophistry”! Stop drawing romance tropes and return to the Yuexia Cao we know!】
【A simple plot prediction: I still think there will be a reversal later. After all, cliché stories are not the author’s comfort zone. He is the famous Yuexia Cao】
…
A dazzling number of thread titles instantly appeared.
Ji Qing paused briefly and clicked into the top discussion thread.
【Topic: Where are the teammates you promised, author?! Do not tell me it was just empty hype!!!】
【1F Original Poster: Honestly, this is ridiculous. At the beginning, the author said this manga would feature a school ensemble cast, and the protagonist would meet many teammates at school. I was extremely excited.
But now there is no sign of an ensemble cast, and our protagonist is about to be kicked out of school. QAQ】
【2F: That author’s promises are hard to swallow】
【3F: An entire volume full of clichés. Even the first volume could be considered cliché】
【4F: Watching the number of comments decrease makes my heart sink. Yuexia Cao, this is your first long-running manga. Even if the response is bad, you must finish it TAT】
【5F: The first volume was actually written quite well. Why has the plot become awkward starting from the second volume?】
【6F Original Poster: When I saw that it was not the classic trio setup, I got excited for a moment. Turns out that was the only place without clichés. Everything afterward is full of them】
【7F: I even saw someone comment that the author is using romance tropes】
【8F: I saw that too】
【9F Original Poster: Same. I almost lost it when I saw that】
【10F: Damn, the first shonen manga author openly writing boys’ love】
【11F: That is going too far】
【12F: Has Yuexia Cao ever drawn BL? Listening to you all describe it like this makes me nervous. Please do not actually give us a boys’ love story.】
【13F: That is impossible】
【14F: The author is definitely heterosexual (facepalm). That part is unquestionable. But male manga artists often draw brotherhood that looks almost like romance… so maybe it is not that different…】
【15F: That is true】
【16F: What we see as romantic tension might just be brotherhood to the author】
【17F: That is basically the truth】
【18F: Honestly, I feel like the plot is both cliché and not cliché. He avoided the three-person protagonist group, and he avoided making Class F full of hidden talents. Instead he just keeps writing face-slapping plots】
【19F: I cannot take it anymore】
【20F: I would rather he chose the first two…】
【21F: Hard to judge】
【22F Original Poster: I think the key now is the upcoming Ability test, individual competition, and team competition. Based on how little attention the author gave Class F, he probably does not plan to develop relationships there】
【23F: Yes, even the introductions were skipped quickly】
【24F: I only know the name of the silver-haired student. Everyone else was simplified by the author…】
【25F: Could the silver-haired one be a teammate?】
【26F: Probably not. The author even censored his face (ridiculous)】
【27F: That is hilarious】
【28F: He carefully draws romance scenes, but simplifies the entire Class F introduction. He only properly drew the protagonist’s introduction, and even that looked awkward…】
【29F: The protagonist was just nervous】
【30F: That awkwardness was actually reasonable】
【31F Original Poster: So where are the teammates?!】
【32F: Probably depends on class reassignment. Since the protagonist defeated Zhou Que, he will probably be transferred to Class S】
【33F: Transferred to Class S? Nice!】
【34F: Not nice. Even Ji Qing has become Zhou Que’s friend now. If the protagonist enters Class S, he will definitely be isolated.】
【35F: Probably not that bad?】
【36F: This reminds me of another ridiculous comment: Defeat Class S one by one and recruit them like Pokémon】
【37F: I cannot take it】
【38F Original Poster: What kind of genius wrote that comment???】
【39F: Honestly, it sounds interesting】
【40F (reply to 39F): You are also a genius】
【41F (reply to 39F): Be quiet, genius】
【42F Original Poster (reply to 39F):
Do you know how many face-slapping plots we would have to endure for that comment? Hahaha, I am not crazy! Yuexia Cao, stop drawing cliché stories!!!】
【43F: Calm down, OP】
【44F: Clichés do have an audience. Just do not combine every cliché at once… I do not want to see bitter romance drama in a passionate shonen manga (tired smile)】
【45F: The main issue is that we still do not know Ji Qing very well】
【46F: If the author actually goes that direction later, the forum might explode. But honestly, neither the protagonist nor we readers really know Ji Qing yet】
【47F (reply to 46F): Is that a flag you just raised?】
【48F (reply to 47F):
What is there to fear? I will raise it.
If the author can actually produce a god-tier plot later that makes the entire forum cry in excitement, I will personally donate 100,000.
But can someone who writes cliché stories actually pull that off?】