Translator: CinderTL
Feng Qi dragged his luggage down the walkway flanked by statues, arriving at the academy gate.
After breakfast, Lin Ran and Mu Qing had offered to see him off, but he declined.
It wasn't a life-or-death farewell, just a brief parting. He saw no need for a special send-off at the gate.
The buses for transporting students had already arrived.
Each bus displayed the academy's name on its windshield, and the drivers stood beside their vehicles, waiting for students from their respective schools to board.
Feng Qi immediately spotted the driver—a grizzled man with a stubbly beard, disheveled hair, and a cigarette dangling from his lips—and headed straight for him.
Seeing Feng Qi approach, the driver stubbed out his cigarette and opened the bus door.
"Hop in," he said. "Just you? Makes things easy. We can leave right away."
Feng Qi nodded, stowed his luggage in the compartment, and stepped onto the bus, taking a seat.
The driver climbed into the driver's seat.
After pressing the ignition button, the engine started, the doors and luggage compartment closed, and the bus slowly pulled out of Star City Academy.
On the way back, the driver, ever the gossip, asked, "So, young man, how many?"
"How many what?" Feng Qi asked, bewildered.
"How many did you get?"
Understanding what the driver was implying, Feng Qi couldn't help but sigh in exasperation. "Uncle, I'm here for a study visit, not to find a mate."
"So, your score is zero then?"
"That's a real disgrace to Star City High School. Only our elite students qualify for these visits. I remember the guy from last year scored two, and the year before that, someone got three. You're the most embarrassing one yet."
Feng Qi: ...
"Well, you just got unlucky drawing Star City Academy. My buddy who drives the Winterfrost Academy route says the elites he took there all scored at least three. Winterfrost Academy is much more... open-minded."
Feng Qi: ...
Noticing Feng Qi's silence, the driver continued, acting as if they were old friends. "Now that the visit's over, have you decided which academy to apply to? If not, I recommend Winterfrost Academy."
"Their teaching environment is like the law of the jungle—survival of the fittest. If you're good enough, you can have multiple girlfriends. Of course, girls can have multiple boyfriends too, as long as your body can handle it..."
The driver suddenly fell silent mid-sentence, then murmured, "Could it be you have... deficiencies in that area? Is that why your score is zero?"
A vein throbbed on Feng Qi's forehead.
You're the one with deficiencies! Your whole family has deficiencies!
Noticing Feng Qi's continued silence, the driver abruptly changed the subject, launching into the latest gossip he'd heard.
He started with a teacher from the neighboring school caught cheating with his mistress, then moved on to the teacher's wife leading her family to blockade the school gates. He ended with the tale of Old Wang caught in the act by the husband, photographed naked hanging out the window...
The driver's topics spanned a wide range of fresh gossip from both inside and outside the school.
Initially expressionless, Feng Qi gradually warmed to the driver's enthusiasm, becoming increasingly engaged in the conversation.
Amidst their banter, the driver's... unique driving style remained unchanged.
He'd periodically roll down the window to unleash a torrent of curses at other drivers, or blast the horn while weaving through traffic, staging a real-life version of Fast & Furious.
If Feng Qi hadn't been in such good physical shape, he was sure he would have thrown up long ago.
As the car pulled into Star City High School, he still felt like the ride had ended too soon.
If they hadn't arrived at school, Feng Qi would have loved to hear the rest of the driver's story about a teacher's wife outsmarting her husband's mistress.
Several teachers were already waiting at the school gate.
As Feng Qi stepped out of the car, Wang Jinsheng strode over, clapped him on the shoulder, and grinned, "So, what do you think of the learning environment at Star City Academy?"
"I suspect you rigged the lottery to get me transferred here," Feng Qi replied with a smirk.
Wang Jinsheng paused, realizing Feng Qi's implication. His expression shifted abruptly. "You secured a direct admission spot?"
"It wasn't too difficult," Feng Qi said with a smile. "After all, I'm your student."
"You little rascal! Tell me how you did it!" Wang Jinsheng couldn't help but grin.
Feng Qi was his most prized student, and he held high hopes for his future. Hearing that Feng Qi had already secured direct admission to Star City Academy filled him with genuine joy.
"Didn't Grandmaster tell you?" Feng Qi asked curiously.
"Grandmaster? You mean Teacher Bai?"
"Ah, he mentioned lecturing you and even said you were the most outstanding student he's ever taught."
A hint of embarrassment flickered across Wang Jinsheng's face. "I haven't been in touch with Teacher Bai for a long time. I insisted on becoming a teacher instead of taking his advice to join the Tiger Soul Research Institute, which caused a lot of friction between us. But I imagine his anger has cooled by now. After your graduation, I plan to visit him."
Feng Qi nodded in understanding, then chuckled. "Old Wang, have you considered my suggestion from before?"
"You were right," Wang Jinsheng replied with a smile. "After you graduate, I'm going to pursue my own dreams too." He paused, then added, "We can talk about that later. Go back to your dorm, drop off your luggage, and then head to the classroom to catch up with your classmates. Tell them about your experiences at Star City Academy."
Feng Qi nodded and dragged his luggage toward the dormitory building.
Following the familiar marble path, he reached his dorm. After dropping off his belongings, he immediately returned to the classroom.
With only five days remaining until the graduation exams, the students were all studying diligently.
"Ahem!"
Hearing the noise, the students turned to look at Feng Qi, their faces lighting up with smiles.
"Well, well, if it isn't our little genius!"
"Mo Fei told me you were planning to bring back a kid in two weeks. Where's the kid? I'm waiting for him to call me 'Uncle,' ha ha ha!"
"Quick, tell me everything about Star City Academy! I'm planning to apply there."
Feng Qi smiled at his enthusiastic classmates, the familiar warmth making him feel deeply at ease.
Under Wang Jinsheng's guidance, they had grown together for six years, united by camaraderie and mutual support.
Though they might only be fleeting figures in each other's lives, this bond was precious, a beautiful memory to cherish.
Returning to his seat, Feng Qi began describing Star City Academy in response to his classmates' eager questions.
He spoke of the delicious buffet, the serene and elegant campus environment, and the luxurious single-occupancy dormitories.
As he spoke, longing flickered across many faces.
Of course, some remained unimpressed. His best friend, Mo Fei, scoffed dismissively:
"I have no interest in cultivation. To me, flesh is weak, and mechanical ascension is the future. Technology is the only path forward. We humans just haven't found the right instruction manual for its development yet. I believe that in the future war against domain creatures, technology will be our salvation."
(End of the Chapter)
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