novelraw Chapter 18 : Academy Seven
Chapter 18 : Academy Seven
"Hey!"
Mindful of the quiet library, Hemo'er waited until he reached Chen Sui's side before lowering his voice to call out.
But before his words came out, he choked on them first.
Chen Sui silently moved her book, shifting slightly away to avoid his germs spraying on her and the book.
Hemo'er had just straightened up when he saw her movement and displayed a hurt expression.
But today's him was no longer yesterday's him.
Now, he had developed some immunity to Chen Sui's aggravating words and actions.
"You're quite skilled. Yesterday I underestimated you. Let's have another match today, shall we?"
Chen Sui lifted her eyelids, glancing at his purple-blue eyes, his cheeks covered in large red swellings, and one side of his jaw still swollen. His arrogant features had puffed up like a leavened steamed bun.
There was something comically cute about it.
"No time."
Chen Sui politely declined.
Hemo'er stood beside her, inhaling fiercely, his anger burning.
Then he carefully gripped the chair, gently moved it out, and slowly sat down.
After completing these slow motions, he suddenly looked up at Chen Sui and asked in a soft voice:
"We have the same schedule, and there are no classes this afternoon. How can you have no time? Tell me, what is it? I'll help you solve it, then you come with me to the combat arena for another match."
His speech sounded somewhat awkward.
Chen Sui guessed it was because his jaw was swollen, making it difficult to open properly, resulting in some mispronunciations.
She paused the online course content and looked at Hemo'er sincerely, momentarily shocked by his multicolored face: "I really don't have time. I need to attend class, read books. If you want to fight, next time."
Hemo'er followed her gesture and looked at the silver-white table.
A hardcover, black and red book: "The Origin and Development of Analysts."
He exploded: "Analyst? You're taking analyst courses?"
"What's so good about being an analyst? Is it better than being a soldier? With your combat skills, you want to be an analyst? How can you be so misguided?"
After speaking, he thought of something and shook his head: "No, you're not Awakened yet, why are you looking at this?"
"Oh, I get it," he stood up angrily, "these are all excuses. You just don't want to have another match with me. Are you afraid?"
"Ha! You're afraid."
Hemo'er attempted to provoke her.
But Chen Sui just looked up and placed a finger to her lips, gesturing for him to keep his voice down.
"Yes, I am quite afraid."
Chen Sui nodded matter-of-factly, and her next words nearly made Hemo'er ascend to heaven on the spot:
"I'm afraid of swelling up your face that has just been treated."
"With all your energy, you'd be better off lying in a medical pod. You can't even speak clearly. Is this fight absolutely necessary?"
"When you can clearly, completely utter a tough line, then come find me for a fight."
Hemo'er could tell these words were mocking him, but he was indeed having trouble articulating clearly and was confused by Chen Sui's promise in the last sentence.
He immediately ignored her earlier harsh words and only focused on the last sentence.
"Really? You'll fight me then?"
Chen Sui nodded, "Really, now please leave."
Stop bothering her.
Having finally obtained a firm answer, Hemo'er swaggered happily back to the medical room.
Tong Can and Zhang You were playing landlords on StarNet. After playing a pair of jokers, Zhang You wore a mournful expression and was about to strangle Tong Can when he caught sight of Hemo'er returning from the corner of his eye and pointed at Tong Can, saying: "Look, I said she definitely wouldn't agree to meet up."
"How do you know?"
Tong Can looked at his confident face, truly not understanding the mindset of those who admired strength.
Zhang You replied righteously: "Because our top, our strong ones, wouldn't even consider a defeated opponent."
Tong Can snorted with laughter: "With your pride, I thought you were one of them."
"It's a common trait of strength-admirers! Sister Sui, the only sister in our soldier system, forever our goddess."
"She agreed," Hemo'er glanced at Zhang You, chin raised, his facial features in a cramped state due to the swelling, appearing somewhat rugged.
"Chen Sui! Agreed to meet me!"
He proclaimed proudly.
But Tong Can leisurely clicked settle, and as the landlord, emptied out the farmer Zhang You's game coins.
Zhang You skillfully opened the medical pod, gesturing to Hemo'er: "Please."
"Aren't you two curious at all?"
Hemo'er looked at them suspiciously, feeling as if his excitement had been doused with a bucket of cold water, instantly losing interest.
Zhang You asked: "You cornered someone in the library, of course they'd send you away for some peace and quiet."
Tong Can added: "Did she specify a time? A place?"
Hemo'er belatedly realized that Chen Sui's perfunctory promise was like an adult's casual "let's meet sometime" remark.
It was all scattered sand, needing no wind to disperse on its own.
He mumbled with his lips, unable to think of a rebuttal, his chest rising and falling violently, filled with anger.
Zhang You tugged at Tong Can, and the two came forward to support Hemo'er on either side, pushing him into the medical pod.
"That's enough," he sincerely advised Hemo'er, "don't get so angry. You just woke up after fainting from anger; if you faint again, I think Doctor Qin will just wake you with cold water."
"I didn't faint from anger," Hemo'er turned his head to explain, but one person strapped him into the medical pod while the other closed the pod door, "I was knocked out by being slammed, you two..."
"Rest up, Hemo'er," Zhang You activated the medical pod's repair fluid while calling landlord in the card game, "Come on, another three hundred rounds."
After staying in the library until nightfall, Chen Sui stretched her stiff joints. The holographic online course content was nearing its end, and she had gained a general understanding of analysts. Just then, her light brain received a message from the life steward reminding her to complete her military training course.
Chen Sui packed up her things, first went to the holographic training room to complete the military training project, and finished ten sets of physical training on her way back.
Her entire body was drenched in sweat as she dragged her exhausted body from the training field back to the dormitory.
Passing by the school team's physical objects building, she saw a group of people walking out.
At the front was a young man with clear, handsome features, black hair scattered, with a wolf-tail that had a slightly curled arc at the back, making his entire head look especially fluffy.
This softened the sharpness conveyed by his cold eyes.
"The analyst matter might be a bit thorny on Teacher Yan's side. If there's really no solution in the end, the burden on your shoulders will be heavier. Plus, I've inquired with friends from other academies, and this year's school teams are all young descendants of major families from the near star rings, perhaps..."
Former school team commander Yun Fang paused, "Perhaps you already know each other, and there will inevitably be some verbal confrontations."
"Don't worry."
The curly-haired wolf-tailed young man nodded. He was tall and elegant. Chen Sui walked slowly past, hearing his deep voice, her ear tips twitching slightly.
"I understand."
Yun Fang wasn't very familiar with this new school team leader.
His illustrious identity made it hard to imagine he'd be willing to give up the superior resources of the near star rings to come to Yuguang Star, which was constantly targeted and marginalized by the council.
But thinking of his maternal lineage, it made some sense.
If he was a child of the Song family, perhaps Zhu Jing Fu could really break the council's plan to expel direct academies in the next league competition.
It was just a pity.
Yun Fang's thick eyebrows furrowed tightly. The next league competition was truly a gathering of talents, with notable geniuses, descendants of major families, and young disciples of masters all congregating.
"Since returning recently, I feel the school has become much livelier, but it's a pity we have to leave after just a few days."
Jin Yu looked at Zhu Jing Fu's scenery with some regret: "Had I known we'd be going to Zone Eleven so quickly, I should have brought some specialties from the biology department's experimental garden."
"What are you thinking?"
The analyst gave him a sideways glance.
Then she suggested to Xie Chunshi: "Actually, you could consider Liao Ruyi. Although her mental threshold value isn't high, to put it bluntly, she's been the second-year top student for so long, which means there are really few who can match her. If Teacher Yan can't find a suitable analyst, let her try."
The curly-haired young man smiled faintly, his eyes still calm, as he said softly:
"Let's see what Teacher Yan arranges."
The senior analyst pressed her lips together without saying more.
Anyone with eyes could see that if this school team commander insisted, even if the team leader teacher had reservations, they would eventually nod in agreement.
So the one selecting the analyst wasn't Teacher Yan at all, but the team leader.
It was Xie Chunshi himself who wanted an analyst with a high mental threshold value.
Chen Sui walked in the same direction as them, separated by a long strip of greenery enclosed on both sides by metal chains. The plants blocked their figures from each other, but the discussion from the other side spilled through the branches and leaves.
Before the two groups headed toward two forking paths, Chen Sui looked back.
The wolf-tailed curly-haired young man at the side of the group glanced over, seeing her with barely noticeable surprise for a second, then nodded slightly.
Chen Sui didn't know him, but through this gesture, she felt friendliness and thus returned the greeting.
"Who was that?"
The analyst curiously looked back, only seeing Chen Sui's shadow elongated by the metal street lamp.
"A newcomer from the soldier system."
"A freshman who can attract Commander Xie's attention?"
Output Jin Yu looked up from the other side, his golden hair swaying, "Soldier system, I think I've heard about her. Isn't she the one causing a stir on the forum? Supposedly broke Director Song's record during enrollment."
At the mention of Song Baining, Jin Yu's movements paused, and the others glanced at Xie Chunshi's expression. The analyst tugged at Jin Yu's sleeve.
"Ahem, well, I remember Puluo's cousin was the one who lost to her, right?"
Xie Chunshi seemed unaffected, overlooking the name they mentioned. His eyes were like the depths of the sea, unfathomable, while his expression remained mild as he nodded:
"She might have a place in the next school team, but unfortunately, she seems to be a non-Awakened."
Hearing this, the former school team soldier expressed some regret.
"Ah, that is indeed a pity. I have seen Puluo's cousin before. Even during foundation school, his combat scores were excellent. For this Junior Sister to defeat him, she must have some real ability. Mental Awakening is truly a difficult barrier; how many geniuses have been blocked on this path? Whether one Awakens or not can completely transform a life."
Xie Chunshi did not speak, but as he lowered his eyes, he thought of the extremely faint energy fluctuations that had come through the air when walking alongside that person earlier, and his eyes deepened.
Not Awakened, not necessarily.