Impossible!

Gui Zian truly didn’t believe it.

But what if?

What if it was true? Then this whole affair was worth some serious thought.

’On the very first day of school, I beat Vice Commander Shen’s grandson-in-law so badly he’s stuck in bed? So badly that when his granddaughter comes to visit, she can only see him lying there?’

Ugh!

Gui Zian didn’t dare to think about it any further.

He knew that man’s temper all too well. He was famously protective, especially when it came to his treasured granddaughter, Shen Ning’Er. He couldn’t possibly spoil her more.

’If this is true, and that last palm strike of mine had landed... even though I’m the vice dean of the Eastern Capital Military Academy, I’d probably end up bedridden just like this kid, right?’

Gui Zian’s gaze drifted to the high platform. He was waiting for a decision from those up there. When the sky falls, the tallest people hold it up. At the very least, he didn’t feel like he was the tallest one at the academy.

"Principal Song, what do we do now? If this kid really has some special relationship with Shen Ning’Er, should we wait until after Shen Ning’Er has visited him to beat him up again?" an instructor advised.

"I have a feeling something’s very off about all this..."

"But he was recommended by Shen Ning’Er, and his talent is exceptional. And just look at that face... Can you see a single flaw? This kid’s looks are off the charts!"

"Shen Ning’Er isn’t that shallow, is she? Just because this kid is handsome?"

"I wouldn’t call it shallow, would you? The kid doesn’t just have looks, he has talent too. A Fourth Human Limit breakthrough! Aside from his humble origins, you really can’t find any other flaws."

"That seems right, but isn’t he a little too rebellious? He’s a very prickly person!"

"Old Zhao, it’s no wonder you’ve been single forever. The kids these days love a bad boy. I think this whole thing is actually very possible!"

"If that’s the case... should we call Lieutenant Chen to confirm?" Gu Yi turned to look at Song Tianyun.

"What would a mere adjutant know about something like this?" Principal Song frowned. He then took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, and dialed a number.

BEEP... BEEP...

A moment later, a young woman’s voice came through the phone.

"Grandpa Song, you were looking for me?"

"Ahem!" Song Tianyun cleared his throat, about to ask his question, but suddenly realized how awkward it was. ’How am I supposed to phrase this? Am I really supposed to just ask Shen Ning’Er, "Is Gao Neng your man?"’

The whole thing felt awkward no matter how he looked at it.

"Grandpa Song, are you calling to ask about Gao Neng?" Shen Ning’Er’s voice came through the phone again.

"You already know?" Song Tianyun’s expression became a bit strange. Although information traveled fast between the Eastern Capital Military Academy and the Eastern Capital Military District, he was still a bit surprised it was this fast.

Unless... Shen Ning’Er truly had a special relationship with Gao Neng and had arranged for people inside the Eastern Capital Military Academy to offer him some sort of "protection."

Song Tianyun speculated silently.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the line.

Shen Ning’Er, however, covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.

She naturally knew what Song Tianyun wanted to ask.

In fact, when she had recommended Gao Neng for the Eastern Capital Military Academy, Principal Song hadn’t paid it much mind, nor had he asked for Gao Neng’s details. Today just so happened to be the new student orientation. If she couldn’t figure out why he was calling now, would she even be Shen Ning’Er?

"Well, Grandpa Song, was the favor I sent you a good one? A Fourth Human Limit breakthrough, five talents over eighty percent, and he even has Spiritual Power. On top of that, Dr. Lan studied his blood and found some kind of special energy in it." Shen Ning’Er didn’t hide any of the details about Gao Neng.

Now that he was in the military academy, some things had to be made public. This would allow Gao Neng to obtain more resources, and the quantity and quality of those resources could, in a very real sense, help a person grow quickly.

"Special energy in his blood?" Song Tianyun truly hadn’t known about this. ’Could it be... that kid’s shout about his "marrow, muscles, and blood reaching perfection" was actually true?’

He’d never heard of such a mutation!

"That’s right. It’s not clear what kind of special energy it is yet; Dr. Lan is still researching it. Is there anything else you wanted to know, Grandpa Song?" Shen Ning’Er continued.

"I heard... and this is just a rumor... that you and Gao Neng have some kind of three-year agreement?" After some thought, Song Tianyun decided to ask, though he phrased it differently.

"Yes... there is something like that." Shen Ning’Er sounded surprised for a moment, but she still confirmed it.

"There really is? Heh heh, well, that settles that. Oh, by the way, even though you aren’t officially enrolled, you’re still affiliated with our Eastern Capital Military Academy by name. If you ever have free time, you should stop by for a class or two. You could help these new students understand what the world outside is really like." Song Tianyun gave an awkward laugh, making a casual, polite suggestion.

As for whether Shen Ning’Er would come to class?

He didn’t actually expect her to. A Major in the Military Department who was only affiliated with his academy in name—where would she find the time to actually attend classes? Besides, he’d heard Shen Ning’Er had another breakthrough recently; her promotion to Lieutenant Colonel was probably just around the corner.

"Alright, I’ll be there in a few days then." Shen Ning’Er agreed. Even though she was a Major in the Military Department, she was only eighteen years old and technically still considered a student of the Eastern Capital Military Academy. Moreover, since Principal Song had personally invited her to a class, she wouldn’t refuse.

"Alright, that’s settled then." Song Tianyun hung up the phone.

But he was truly shaken. The Alliance’s true prodigies rarely bothered with military academies. For someone like Shen Ning’Er, whose family’s resources were more than sufficient and whose fighting techniques were family heirlooms, coming to an academy just to learn the basics would be a complete waste of time.

Furthermore, Shen Ning’Er was a Major in the Military Department with many responsibilities. He had only made a casual remark, never expecting she would actually agree to come.

This forced him to consider whether Gao Neng was the reason for her decision.

"How did it go?" Gu Yi asked.

"It seems... it’s true." Song Tianyun’s expression was extremely odd. He truly couldn’t believe it, yet Shen Ning’Er’s words left him no choice but to.

HISS!

This was big news!

’Shen Ning’Er takes one trip to the Forgotten Land and comes back with a man? If word of this actually gets out, the entire Eastern Capital Military District will probably go into an uproar. I wonder what that Vice Commander Shen will think when he hears about it?’

"No way... That kid is really..." Gu Yi couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

"So what now? Are we still going to beat this kid up?"

"Shen Ning’Er said she’s coming over in a few days. If you really want to beat him, I won’t stop you." Song Tianyun glanced at the instructor who had spoken. ’Go ahead, you can be the one to do it.’

"..." The instructor who had spoken immediately shut his mouth.

’If anyone’s going to beat him, it should be Gui Zian.’

’What’s it got to do with me?’

...

On the high platform, Principal Song and the instructors all shut their mouths and stared at the sky.

Down on the training field, Gui Zian was cursing up a storm.

’So this is the legendary "passing the buck," huh? What happened to "the tallest person holds it up" when things go wrong?’

’Who was it just a minute ago, all high and mighty, saying we needed to knock this kid down a peg? Okay, I’m here trying to do it, and you’re all just going to leave me hanging?’

Gui Zian’s face was livid.

Worst of all, over a thousand new students were on the training field, staring at him with wide eyes!

’Don’t punish Gao Neng?’

’Is that even an option?’

Gui Zian glared at Gao Neng.

Gao Neng looked pitifully at Gui Zian.

’Pitiful my ass! I didn’t see you looking so pitiful when you were fighting just now!’ Gui Zian cursed inwardly before finally speaking aloud. "Ahem. Gao Neng, you performed exceptionally well just now. You’ve served as an excellent... role model for this year’s freshmen! However, this habit of yours of defying an instructor’s orders cannot be tolerated!"

Gui Zian practically spat out the words "role model" through gritted teeth.

"Then... how about I run two laps around the field?" Gao Neng asked obediently, immediately suggesting his own punishment.

"Two laps?!" Gui Zian’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink. ’Does this guy really think this is high school? I have to punish him severely today, or I’ll lose all face!’ "One hundred Merit Points will be deducted! And that’s only because this is your first offense. If there’s a next time, you’ll receive... a demerit, at the very least!"

He managed to swallow the word "expulsion" that was on the tip of his tongue.

"Okay, thank you, Dean Gui." Gao Neng immediately seized the opportunity.

"It’s *Vice* Dean!" Gui Zian snorted heavily.

"Okay, then Dean Gui... what about the 200 Merit Points you offered just now?" Gao Neng blinked, looking expectantly at Gui Zian.

"What 200 Merit Points?" Gui Zian’s brows knitted.

"You said they’d get 200 Merit Points if they beat me. I understood that to mean there was a reward for defeating me. Since none of them managed to do that, shouldn’t those 200 Merit Points go to me?" Gao Neng said, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Kid, are you dreaming?" Gui Zian had finally snapped back to reality. ’He’s lucky I’m not beating him until he’s bedridden, and he has the nerve to ask me for a reward?’

"But Dean Gui just said it himself: my performance was excellent, a good role model for the freshmen. Punishments should come with rewards, shouldn’t they? And the Eastern Capital Military Academy wouldn’t be the kind of place to take back a reward once it’s been offered, right?" Gao Neng pressed on. He was a man with "connections" now; there was nothing wrong with milking it for some benefits.

Besides, he’d heard it himself: Shen Ning’Er was really coming to the Eastern Capital Military Academy in a few days.

’By then...’

’...the jig will probably be up, right?’

’If I don’t cash in now, when will I get another chance?’

"Give it to him. The academy has no precedent for taking back a reward once it’s been offered. He defeated everyone else, so the reward should be his." Principal Song was mentally exhausted. His gaze then fell upon the gloomy-looking new students below. "If you want to reclaim the reward that should have been yours, you can. Just challenge Gao Neng. Defeat him, and those 200 Merit Points will be yours!"

...

The new students said nothing.

They had all fought Gao Neng as a group and lost. Challenge him one-on-one? Wasn’t that just asking for a death wish?

Gui Zian was also feeling incredibly weary.

’Does this mean he gets 100 points deducted, but 200 points awarded? So not only does the kid get away unpunished, he actually comes out ahead?’

’The culture at the Eastern Capital Military Academy is getting more and more corrupt.’

’How can we act based on who has powerful connections? Just because this kid might be Vice Commander Shen’s grandson-in-law, is the great Eastern Capital Military Academy really going to be afraid of him?’

Just as he was thinking...

He saw Gao Neng fall headfirst in front of him.

He was foaming at the mouth.

"..." Gui Zian’s face instantly went from livid to pale. "Kid, don’t even think about trying to frame me for an injury! I, Gui Zian, won’t fall for that trick! I swear I didn’t hit you!"

"Frame you, my ass... This is... a side effect..." Gao Neng grabbed tightly onto Gui Zian’s leg with one hand. He really was dizzy, and his entire body felt incredibly sick.

He really wanted to sing "Little Leaping Frog" again to get rid of this awful feeling.

’But if I sing again now...’

’...I’ll probably be beaten to a pulp for real.’

’I just have to endure it!’

Just then, a mechanical "DING!" sounded in his ear.

(Bonus Chapter delivered! Please vote with your monthly tickets!)