“This is a disgrace, a disaster, and an utter humiliation!”
Wu Fan heard his rant, and his face twitched.
[Others couldn’t broach all topics, and this guy complains about not being the first to hand it in.]
Wang Qi was royally pissed. When he finally got over it, he looked around.
[It’s already said and done anyway. Rather than whine about it, I should go back and solve more problems.]
In his pursuit to find out who was number one, it turned out to be some underachiever that couldn’t solve most topics, making Wang Qi feel better.
“Ah-ha-ha-ha, I always say there are some battles in life you can never win.”
Wang Qi waved to the two. “Let’s eat. My treat.”
Wu Fan pointed out. “Wang Qi, the mess hall is free for everyone.”
“Ha-ha-ha, Senior Brother Wang, you’re funny.” Yang Jun said.
He agreed with Wang Qi, but his voice startled him. Wang Qi sent it to Wu Fan. “Who’s he? Is your friend right in the head? Talk about creepy laughter.”
“Uh, well…” Wu Fan didn’t know to send, whispering instead. “Yang Jun’s family had some problems.”
Wang Qi didn’t feel like chatting with this emo guy. Most of the time, Yang Jun just stood there, absentminded. Wu Fan was caught in the middle, failing to break the silence. The trio kept the awkward mood all the way to the mess hall.
Wang Qi picked up on Mao Zimiao and Wang Zhenqi in the corner. The former jumped and called out, “Little Qi, over here, nya!”
Wang Qi waved back, walking over with the other two.
The two demonborn girls’ table had papers and brushes. Divine Province’s writing was slightly off from ancient China’s. Most people started out with a soft brush before switching to hard writing instruments like quills and pencils. Wang Qi had been writing with a brush for a decade and wasn’t used to pencils. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
He grabbed one and tried it in his hand while taking an outlined sheet of paper. “What are you looking at?”
Wang Zhenqi deflated and stretched on the table. “Checking out our grades…”
The paper had the topics from the monthly examination’s written exam and the two’s calculations.
Wang Qi went down memory lane. [Back in high school, all would make little groups and go to the snack shop outside after exams, drinking milk tea or eating chicken nuggets while cross-checking answers. Not even bookworms like me were immune to the custom.]
Wu Fan looked at a paper in curiosity, crying out, “So that’s how you solve this! I think I got it wrong.”
“Let me see.” Wang Qi grabbed it. “Didn’t you ask me a similar question this morning?”
“Eh?” Wu Fan’s annoyance grew.
Mao Zimiao was looking very worried. “It’s great you’re here, Little Qi, nya. What of these problems?”
Wang Qi gave her crucial hints that helped Mao Zimiao solve them. After a while, Wu Shiqin entered the mess hall and walked straight for Mao Zimiao with a weary look.
Wu Shiqin shook her head. “No, it’s the boring patrol.”
Wang Qi recalled her violent nature, yet she was still able to get a position as a disciplinary officer despite it. He gave her an exasperated look. “I can’t, for the life of me, understand why they haven’t kicked you out yet.”
She was the savage bookworm, compared to Wang Qi, a thorough one at that. Nevertheless, she did solve the Celestial Hymn Odyssey’s entry topic. With her around, solving the problems was a breeze.
[It feels like I’m forgetting something.]
Wang Qi frowned and looked around. Only then did he recall Yang Jun sitting next to him.
[Are all of Wu Fan’s friends so inconspicuous?] Wu Fan grumbled in his mind. Yang Jun hadn’t spoken a word or offered any help, making it easy for Wang Qi to overlook him.
Wang Qi wanted to ask Yang Jun for help with the answers. The more underachievers he rehabilitated, the better a bookworm felt, no?
He paused, though, noticing something off about Yang Jun. His eyes were glazed and he had a hard breath while looking straight at Mao Zimiao’s head.
[Holy crap! The freak has a beast-ear fetish. He can’t control himself from rubbing one off.]
[Uh, per Divine Province custom, that would be polishing the sword.]
Yang Jun’s bizarre behavior got noticed by the rest. Mao Zimiao was the first to pick up on it. The demonborn girl shielded her ears on reflex, raising her tone. “Little Qi, Wu Fan! This guy…’
Wu Shiqin flinched at Mao Zimiao’s action. The disciplinary officer eyed Wang Qi, then Yang Jun.
[What the hell? Why am I to blame? Twice, too. He’s not even my friend!]
Wu Fan and Wang Zhenqi finally reacted. Wu Fan’s face fell as he said, “Yang Jun…”
Yang Jun exploded from his seat, aiming to gauge Mao Zimiao’s eyes with his fingers.
Everyone was taken aback. Wang Qi was quick to release a wave at his shoulder. Yang Jun allowed it to hit and blood splattered, slowing his movements. Mao Zimiao jumped back on instinct, with Yang Jun leaping off the table in pursuit. Wu Shiqin finally reacted and did a sweep kick to push him back. Yang Jun knocked down a few tables, struggling to get back to his feet. Wu Shiqin lunged and stomped on him.
Wang Qi yanked Wu Fan’s clothes, roaring in his face. “What kind of a friend is he?”
Wu Fan was too stunned to speak, stammering. “H-he got transferred a month ago. I-I didn’t know he’d attack demonborns. Honest!”
Wu Fan pleaded, “I’m sorry! I didn’t know! Yang Jun is so pitiful, having his entire village killed by demons. He watched his family die before his eyes. I-I’m sorry!”
Wu Shiqin took out a rope and tied Yang Jun up, her voice cold. “You assaulted a fellow student. You’re coming with me to the behavioral Office.” She turned to Wu Fan. “I need a witness. You’re his friend, so you’re coming along.”
Wu Fan gave a weak nod, following her out.
Mao Zimiao and Wang Zhenqi’s mood to compare answers was gone.
Wang Zhenqi struck the table with rage: “Wild demon attacks have nothing to do with us! I and Ah’Miao’s ancestors were immortal cultivators. Ah’Miao’s father is even a frontier guard for crying out loud!”
“What can we do, nya?” Mao Zimiao managed, her shoulders slumped.