The principal directed the media: "Come, group photo! Take several shots!"
He warmly put his arm around Su Zhan's shoulders, facing the camera with his signature benevolent smile.
When the photographer counted down "three, two, one,"
he even subtly stood on tiptoe to avoid looking too short beside the 183cm-tall Su Zhan.
"Su Zhan."
The principal took out a handkerchief to wipe nonexistent tears: "Do you remember? When you first transferred here, I could already tell you were special!"
Su Zhan: "..."
"Now that you've made it big, the school gets to share the spotlight."
The principal spoke rapidly: "You must come back for the anniversary celebration! We've reserved you a spot to cut the ribbon at the new campus groundbreaking ceremony too!"
The heartfelt declaration even moved the young reporter nearby to tears.
Seizing the moment, the principal shouted at the closing cabin door: "You must visit your alma mater often!"
The door shut.
With engine roars, the Vermilion Bird Academy's private jet began taxiing.
Through the window, Su Zhan looked down at the teachers and students still waving frantically.
Then the plane tilted upward, piercing the sky.
Wang Mingyuan handed him an icy drink: "What? Lost in thought?"
Su Zhan watched the shrinking cityscape through the window.
"Just reflecting on entering unfamiliar territory, that's all."
As the jet broke through clouds, golden sunlight flooded the cabin.
Su Zhan gazed at the rolling sea of clouds outside,
feeling an inexplicable sense of gain and loss.
Suddenly,
the entire cabin shuddered slightly.
"Hahaha! Old Wang! Ten fucking years and you finally remember to come back?!"
A thunderous laugh made tableware tremble.
Su Zhan looked up to see
a nearly two-meter-tall bald muscular man approaching, his bulging muscles straining the Vermilion Bird Academy's crimson uniform.
A ferocious scar over his right eye didn't diminish his radiant grin.
The giant clamped onto Wang Mingyuan's shoulders with force that nearly dislodged his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Kong Wu, ease up!"
Wang Mingyuan adjusted his glasses helplessly: "My old bones can't take your roughness."
"Bullshit!"
The man roared with laughter while pounding Wang Mingyuan's back: "Back in battle, you took three hits from a Frost Gnawer without flinching! Playing delicate now?"
Wang Mingyuan smiled wryly: "You know about my old injuries. I'm not what I used to be."
Kong Wu's expression darkened briefly before turning to Su Zhan:
"So this is the kid with the SSS-grade Life Soul?"
After scrutinizing Su Zhan, he grinned: "Not bad! Much more spirited than in videos!"
Before Su Zhan could respond,
Kong Wu plopped down opposite him, leaning in with interest:
"Kid, you're the talk of the town now!"
He pulled out a phone, swiped a few times, and headlines about Su Zhan's courtroom and airport appearances appeared - each more sensational than the last:
[SSS-Grade Prodigy's Counterattack!]
[Pride of Jiang City!]
[Aberrant Purge Division's Disgrace!]
"Tsk, these headlines..." Kong Wu shook his head, then grinned: "But honestly, Doberman was trash. Feels good crushing scum like that, right?"
Wang Mingyuan frowned: "Kong Wu!"
"What? I'm not wrong!"
Kong Wu waved dismissively: "Those Aberrant Purge Division mutts always look down their noses. About time someone put them in their place!"
He suddenly slammed a massive hand on Su Zhan's shoulder, making the seat creak:
"Kid, work hard at Vermilion Bird Academy!
Next time you meet Aberrant Purge Division trash like Doberman, don't hold back - beat the crap out of them!
If they're too tough, just drop my name - Kong Wu!"
Wang Mingyuan massaged his temples: "Stop corrupting the rookie..."
The cabin filled with Kong Wu's boisterous laughter.
Su Zhan lowered his head, the faintest smile touching his lips.
Kong Wu - "Mighty Kong Wu" - lived up to his name.
Vermilion Bird Academy might be more interesting than he'd imagined.
Kong Wu's bear-like frame sank into the opposite seat, leather groaning in protest.
He produced a bronze flask and took a deep swig.
"Old Wang,"
wiping alcohol from his beard: "Ten years apart, and your glasses make you look even more scholarly."
Wang Mingyuan polished his gold-rimmed glasses methodically: "Unlike you - that scar really accentuates your right eye."
"Hahaha!"
Kong Wu slapped his thighs: "That's why I missed you! Seriously though, teaching high school for ten years - didn't it suffocate you?"
Wang Mingyuan donned his glasses: "Quite fulfilling. Morning study hall at seven, evening self-study sessions, weekend grading..."
"Cut the crap!"
Kong Wu waved him off: "Don't think I don't know - you may look refined, but you fight Mist Creatures more recklessly than I do. Really content just waving a ruler now?"
"That was then."
Wang Mingyuan's lips quirked: "Now I'm civilized. Worst punishment I give is making them copy texts."
Kong Wu nearly fell over laughing, then whispered: "Be honest - any side gigs?"
Wang Mingyuan adjusted his glasses: "Caught someone selling fake Awakening Serums on campus last week."
"That's it?"
Kong Wu looked disappointed: "You've gotten so..."
"Broke three of his ribs before turning him in."
Wang Mingyuan added.
"Now we're talking!"
Kong Wu slammed the table, rattling dishes: "That's the Old Wang I know!"
Wang Mingyuan shook his head: "What about you? Been busy down south?"
Kong Wu shrugged: "Same old - teaching, border patrols, missions...
Oh, remember Old Bai? Got transferred to Black Tortoise Academy during the northern conflicts twenty years back.
Went drinking with him last month - drained his entire stash of Iceheart Brew!"
Wang Mingyuan raised an eyebrow: "Didn't he try to kill you?"
"Please!"
Kong Wu shook his flask proudly: "Brought him Firecloud Burn from the south - he drank more than I did!"
Their banter continued nonstop throughout the flight.
Su Zhan listened with genuine interest, never tiring.
In his past life, he'd had close friends like Kong Wu too.
But here...
Just over a month in this world, and he'd already encountered a rabid dog like Doberman.
Quite unlucky.
Outside, Vermilion Bird Academy's silhouette grew clearer.
Kong Wu suddenly grew quiet, nostalgic: "Remember our academy days?"
Wang Mingyuan gazed out the window: "You always stole my tea."
"Your damn tea tasted like bitter medicine!"
Kong Wu made a face: "Oh, Old Bai asked me to tell you something."
"What?"
"He said..."
Kong Wu turned serious: "'Tell that bespectacled bastard if he doesn't visit soon, I'll post flyers everywhere about him crying during training.'"
Wang Mingyuan finally laughed aloud: "That shameless old fool."
Kong Wu stood, clapping Wang Mingyuan's shoulder:
"Come on, brother. We're home."