Zhao Mu prepared breakfast as usual and went to knock on Bu Yanhuan's door.
After knocking several times with no response, he casually opened the door and saw Bu Yanhuan half-hanging off the bed without a care for her image, still clutching the fine wine Old Xie had sent.
Zhao Mu was already used to this. He walked over, placed her properly on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.
"I'm heading to school first. The food is on the table; remember to eat when you wake up."
Zhao Mu closed the door and left the house.
Dressed in black sportswear, he walked toward the school as usual.
Along the way, many neighbors greeted him with slightly awkward expressions.
"Yo, Xiao Mu, good morning."
Zhao Mu nodded back with a smile.
But as soon as he walked away, the group of neighbors immediately started whispering.
"That kid from the Old Zhao Family, he used to be first every year, so how is he only Rank E?!"
"Sigh, you can say that again! It must be a huge blow to him."
"His parents died on the Front Line. If he can't enter the Qingfeng Camp, he can only go to the Front Line too. If something happens to him, won't the Old Zhao Family die out?"
"Haha, look at you talking. Are there few people here who have died out?"
...In fact, Zhao Mu's hearing was excellent now, and he could hear everything those people were saying.
However, the things he had experienced over the past three days had matured his mindset considerably, so he just laughed it off.
From his house to the school, Shen Moran's family's pork stall was the only way, and Zhao Mu had no intention of taking a detour.
Because he had truly let go.
However, when he arrived in front of the Shen family's house, he saw a very Advanced luxury sedan parked at the entrance.
A familiar figure appeared there, elegant and smiling—it was Shao Han from class one.
Shen Moran was about to get into the car after being sent off by her smiling parents.
Sensing something, Shao Han and Shen Moran looked over, meeting Zhao Mu's gaze.
Zhao Mu felt speechless. He didn't expect to run into them so coincidentally.
But it wasn't that much of a coincidence, as everyone's school schedule was roughly the same.
Shao Han's expression was playful. "Isn't this Student Zhao Mu? Good morning."
Shen Moran frowned slightly, said nothing, and got straight into the car.
Shao Han looked at Zhao Mu, his eyes growing increasingly smug.
"Sorry, there's no room in the car. So we can't give you a ride! We're leaving now."
He also got into the car, and the vehicle quickly drove away.
Shen Moran's parents looked a bit awkward and turned their heads, going back inside the house.
At this moment, Little Fatty from the glasses shop ran over mischievously. "Brother Xiao Mu, that's the luxury car that brought Sister Shen back that day! Do you think Sister Shen snagged a rich patron?"
Zhao Mu smiled lightly: "How would I know? After all, she and I have already broken up."
The news of him and Shen Moran breaking up was not news at all; in the eyes of the neighbors, it was the most reasonable outcome.
An ordinary person of Rank E certainly couldn't match a Rank B Genius.
As if nothing had happened, Zhao Mu walked straight past the Shen family's pork stall.
The proficiency of the demon clown's [Walking] was steadily increasing, and he walked swiftly.
Soon, Zhao Mu arrived at the school. Today, the school was packed. Over two thousand graduates gathered here, while the lower-grade students had the day off.
The school was a hive of noise, occasionally punctuated by bursts of crying.
Zhao Mu saw several couples breaking up on the spot, just like he and Shen Moran had, turning their backs on each other and leaving each other's lives.
After this farewell, they might not meet again in the coming years. Perhaps soon, many of these graduates would become a handful of yellow earth on the battlefield.
Zhao Mu arrived at class three. Many students were already there. Teacher Xu was sitting in front of the lectern, holding many forms.
As soon as Zhao Mu entered the classroom, Teacher Xu immediately smiled. "Zhao Mu, you're here! Come quickly and get a form."
It was a Career Path Survey form, with only two options: joining the military or participating in the Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial.
Zhao Mu took a form, returned to his seat, and began filling it out without hesitation.
Without a doubt, he chose to go to the Qingfeng Camp to participate in the Trial.
In another direction, a group of girls surrounded Shen Moran, forming a small circle.
Various words of flattery poured out.
"Student Shen, you're so amazing! Getting directly recommended to the Qingfeng Camp! When you make it big later, don't forget us good girlfriends!"
"I really envy you! Unlike me, I'm still hesitating whether to have my dad pull strings to get me a clerical job in the military, or to go to the Qingfeng Camp and try my luck in the Trial."
Shen Moran simply smiled and responded to everyone, but suddenly she saw Zhao Mu sitting back down in his seat.
Since entering the classroom, Zhao Mu hadn't looked at her once, which made Shen Moran frown slightly, feeling a little unpleasant inside.
The girl named Liu Yuling noticed Shen Moran's gaze, glanced at Zhao Mu, and laughed, "Mo Mo, you haven't moved on from him, have you? From now on, you two belong to different worlds. There are so many outstanding men in the upper class waiting for you, don't dwell on him anymore."
Shen Moran smoothed her hair and smiled, "What nonsense are you talking about? He and I... are already history."
Many classmates looked at Zhao Mu, casting strange glances. They seemed to hope to see Zhao Mu looking dejected and downcast, but seeing him as composed as before, they immediately felt dissatisfied.
But everyone was busy now and couldn't be bothered to provoke Zhao Mu.
However, a large circle was cleared out in the middle of the classroom, where several students rated Rank C were sitting casually on the desks, chatting and laughing.
Wang Qing was among them. He glanced at Zhao Mu, who was sitting in front, and a look of disgust flashed in his eyes.
He deliberately said loudly, "He's clearly just Rank E, so why is he pretending to be a top student here?"
The others beside him, including those who had mocked Zhao Mu with Wang Qing that day, laughed along in agreement.
"Don't say that! After all, being in school is the last moment of glory in his life. Can't we allow him to feign strength and put on a facade?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. When you're a person, you have to be more practical. Dying for Face brings misery!"
Hearing these remarks, Zhao Mu merely smiled disdainfully.
The malice of teenagers was nothing more than this; in his eyes, it was laughable and caused no real harm.
However, he was a very vengeful person.
Hearing that they were also going to participate in the Qingfeng Camp's Entrance Trial, Zhao Mu made a note of all their Faces.
Zhao Mu finished filling out the form and handed it in. When Teacher Xu saw that Zhao Mu had applied to go to the Qingfeng Camp, he nodded with satisfaction.
"Although Rank E is a bit low, your foundation is very good, and you still have hope of joining the Qingfeng Camp. Focus on mastering your Spiritual Power in the next few days. I'll be waiting for your good news."
Zhao Mu smiled and nodded, "Understood, Teacher Xu. I will definitely pass the exam and enter the Qingfeng Camp!"