Inside the academy building, an odd sight drew everyone's attention.
Four members of the Supernatural Club were struggling to carry a figure that looked more like a piece of charcoal than a human being.
A male instructor who happened to be passing through the corridor stopped for a moment, staring at the charred remains of the youth with pity.
"Sigh, another genius dead young. Truly... heaven is always jealous of great talent!"
"Sir, the morgue and the crematorium are on the back mountain. You've taken the wrong path!" another instructor chimed in from behind a window.
Hao Xian, who was nearly on the brink of death due to rage and electrical shocks, suddenly snapped his eyes open.
"Bastards... where are you taking me?!"
"Chairman! Can you think before you speak?!" one of his lackeys exclaimed in shock.
"I'm just seriously injured, damn it! I'll recover in a month!" Hao Xian barked with a raspy voice.
Even so, deep down, Hao Xian felt apprehensive.
From the outside, he truly looked like a freshly roasted corpse.
He briefly considered hanging a sign on his chest that read:
'STILL ALIVE, DO NOT BURN'
Otherwise, if he fell into a deep sleep and these heartless people pushed him into a cremation oven...
He feared that when he screamed from the heat later, they would just think he was a rising corpse and push him deeper into the fire.
No, I mustn't sleep!
If I sleep now, I might actually turn into ash!
…
Knock! Knock!
They entered Wen Wan's office.
The beautiful instructor stared suspiciously at the heap of charcoal being carried in.
Once she took a closer look, she realized it was Hao Xian, the Vice Chairman of the club.
What happened?
Did Shen Xiao beat him up?
Wen Wan thought.
If he's here to complain and ask for justice, should I... just silence him to protect Shen Xiao?
"Chairman Hao, what happened? Your injuries are severe. Quick, take a seat first," Wen Wan said with feigned kindness.
"I'm not the Vice Chairman anymore. Shen Xiao won the duel; that position belongs to him now," Hao Xian answered weakly.
Hearing that, Wen Wan, who was about to pour tea, suddenly changed her mind.
She crossed her long legs, then casually kicked the chair Hao Xian was about to sit on until the man tumbled to the floor.
"If you're no longer the Vice Chairman, how dare you try to sit in front of me? Have you no manners!" Wen Wan barked coldly.
Hao Xian was flabbergasted.
Her attitude changed so fast! She was acting so sweet just a second ago!
He crawled up with a trembling body, not daring to look at that chair again.
"I-Instructor Wen... I just wanted to ask. Is Lu Qingyue in your class?"
"Yes, why?"
"Can you tell me... what exactly has she been doing for the last four months?"
Wen Wan let out a sigh, her expression turning serious.
"Qingyue? She took a long leave of absence. Her mother was critically ill and had to be hospitalized for three months. She only just returned. Because her focus was split caring for her family, her training fell apart and her strength is still at the level of a new student."
"She had trouble finding a team because no one wanted to accept her, until Shen Xiao pulled her in this morning. Why?"
Taking leave... caring for sick family...
Hao Xian felt his chest tighten.
So that's why Shen Xiao was so angry?
I really just thrashed a girl who was struggling for the sake of her mother?
"I... I'm truly a bastard!" Hao Xian muttered, full of regret.
Before they left, Wen Wan punished them by making them clean the corridors for a whole semester for "dirtying her office floor with charcoal ash."
Hao Xian realized that Shen Xiao hadn't sent him here to ask questions, but to be further humiliated by this "scumbag" instructor!
"Big Brother Hao, don't be sad. At least we're still alive," one of his lackeys consoled him.
"Did I... make a huge mistake?" Hao Xian asked dazed.
"Bro, be confident. Delete the 'did I.' You definitely made a huge mistake!"
"You want to die?!" Hao Xian shouted while smacking his lackey's head.
"We have to go back and apologize. Just an apology isn't enough. Think of something more sincere!"
"How about a ritual disembowelment?"
"You guys really want me dead?!" Hao Xian roared.
"Earlier, Shen Xiao almost turned my 'second little brother' into jerky if he hadn't held back. If I'm not sincere, my 'brother' might actually be finished!"
…
Back at the Arena.
"Shen Xiao! Stop! Come down!" Hao Xian shouted from a distance.
Shen Xiao frowned.
Is this Dog Hao bringing reinforcements?
He glanced at Lu Qingyue, who was still trying to attack him.
"Ignore them. Continue, Qingyue. Ten more seconds and you pass!"
"Understood!" Lu Qingyue refused to stop.
Even though every one of her attacks was parried and she was always placed back on the floor gently, she felt there was progress.
"One last move! Shen Xiao, watch out!" Lu Qingyue cried.
She drained the last of her spiritual energy, creating a water wave large enough to obscure Shen Xiao's vision.
THUD-!
Shen Xiao intentionally let a single punch land on his arm.
He then caught Lu Qingyue's body to prevent her from falling.
"Based on my serious assessment as the new Vice Chairman," Shen Xiao declared loudly.
"Your strength is sufficient to carry out missions. Congratulations, Lu Qingyue."
"Thank you, Shen Xiao! I will work even harder!"
Ding!
[Received Favorability from Lu Qingyue. Fate Ticket +100!]
Right at that moment, Hao Xian's group arrived.
Unexpectedly, Hao Xian fell straight onto his knees, which was actually because his legs were weak and his lackeys were too slow to hold him up.
"Shen Xiao, Lu Qingyue... I was wrong!" Hao Xian exclaimed sincerely.
"I apologize for being prejudiced and making your exam difficult."
Lu Qingyue was stunned.
Seeing Hao Xian's condition, already charcoal, yet still willing to kneel and apologize, her resentment vanished.
"It's okay, Chairman Hao. Please, stand up."
Hao Xian felt relieved.
"Thank you for your understanding. As a token of my apology, since I heard you haven't met the mission standards yet, how about I join your team to help—"
Before Hao Xian could finish his sentence, a Thunder Kirin crackled in the palm of Shen Xiao's hand.
Shen Xiao also made a "neck-cutting" gesture with eyes that were absolutely lethal.
Hao Xian instantly broke into a cold sweat.
He realized he had said something forbidden.
Shen Xiao clearly wanted to be "alone" with Lu Qingyue.
"I mean... together we shall celebrate your graduation by giving you a bonus of ten Spirit Stones!" Hao Xian corrected quickly.
Shen Xiao lowered his hand, smiling warmly.
"What did you say about 'together' just now? Want me to repeat the lightning show?"
"N-no! Nothing! I'm leaving now!"