Chapter 35 : Chapter 35
Chapter 35
“The winner—Xie Chang’an!”
As the referee’s voice fell, Liu Mu’s journey in the individual competition came to an end. He lay on the arena, exhausted, staring blankly at the drifting clouds in the sky.
The competition had ended.
But his troubles had not.
“Are you alright?”
A shadow fell over him. Xie Chang’an bent down with concern, reaching out to help him up—only for Liu Mu to refuse outright.
He remembered Xie Chang’an.
Shao Huayu did not like him, so he could not get too close either. Keeping a cold expression, Liu Mu stood up and dusted off his pants, leaving Xie Chang’an’s hand hanging awkwardly in the air.
He turned to leave the arena, but just before stepping off—
Liu Mu suddenly stopped and glanced back.
“Not bad instincts. It is a pity your Ability is so poor.”
Xie Chang’an scratched his head awkwardly.
After meeting Li Yuan, he already knew he had no real Ability. The “Physical Enhancement” recorded in the school’s files was merely the result of his rigorous training.
But outwardly, he simply nodded.
“Mm.”
Liu Mu looked at him with a complicated expression, but said nothing more. Since middle school, he had always been part of Shao Huayu’s faction.
If he spoke too much, idle tongues might twist it into something else. Being gossiped about was tolerable—but if Zhou Que found out, it would surely turn into a loud confrontation.
Liu Mu had no desire to argue with Zhou Que.
So he said nothing further and left the arena.
In the spectator stands, students whispered among themselves. Many discussed Xie Chang’an’s strength. Thanks to his Class F background and remarkable performance, Liu Mu did not hear his own name mentioned:
“A Class F student making it this far is impressive.”
“What is the point of being impressive? The most important thing for Ability users is fighting Aberrants. An F-grade Ability cannot support them in deep Danger Zones.”
“Honestly, I feel like my family’s bodyguard could do the same…”
Liu Mu walked away quickly, silently listening. Only when he reached the contestants’ waiting room did he finally sigh.
What he truly wanted to say to Xie Chang’an was this:
If you want to live peacefully in this school, do not win too much.
The purpose of the individual and team competitions was to evaluate students’ mastery of their Abilities. Even the allowance of cold weapons existed to assist Ability usage.
Xie Chang’an was a loophole in the system.
Did he display Ability usage? Did he demonstrate mastery?
The more Liu Mu thought about it, the more bleak the future seemed. The Third Ability Academy was already lenient—if this had been his middle school, he would have been expelled.
Liu Mu understood the importance of a diploma.
A graduation certificate from an Ability high school meant access to high-paying jobs beyond the walls. For commoners, it was a path to upward mobility.
Xie Chang’an’s desire to be seen was not wrong—but only if he was not expelled first.
“This is bad… it is like watching someone walk straight toward their own end…” Liu Mu covered his face, murmuring helplessly.
All he could do now was hope the school would show mercy.
“What do you mean, ‘this is bad’?”
A familiar male voice suddenly sounded.
Liu Mu’s body stiffened.
He looked up and saw You Xingluo standing at the doorway, holding a bottle of water in his left hand, his right hand still raised as if he had been about to knock.
Liu Mu instinctively leaned out to check the corridor.
There was no one else.
He let out a sigh of relief. As expected, Shao Huayu and the others had not come to watch his match.
But why was You Xingluo here?
Composing himself, Liu Mu asked, “Mr. You, what brings you here?”
You Xingluo blinked. “Hm?”
“Why do you call Huayu by name, but call me ‘Mr. You’?” he muttered, raising an eyebrow. “If we go by age, I am definitely younger than all of you.”
Liu Mu was stunned. “You actually care about that?”
Then realization dawned.
You Xingluo probably wanted to maintain a low profile in school. His current form of address made that difficult.
Liu Mu corrected himself seriously, “Alright, You… classmate. What can I do for you?”
You Xingluo stepped forward and pinched Liu Mu’s cheek hard.
“That hurts!” Liu Mu surrendered instantly.
Taking a deep breath, You Xingluo released him and held his face firmly, staring into his eyes.
“Right now, only you and Huayu know my true identity.”
“Do you understand the importance of confidentiality?”
His tone was so solemn that it felt as though Liu Mu might be treated as a spy the next second.
“…I understand.”
“Good. Then call me Xingluo.”
Liu Mu froze.
“…They never told me you were like this… No—alright, Xingluo.”
His entire thought process nearly collapsed.
You Xingluo nodded in satisfaction and handed him the water.
“Have you found a team for the team competition?”
“…Do I need to?” Liu Mu asked reflexively.
He thought awkwardly: Did Huayu already arrange something? Or did he pick someone else?
You Xingluo sat beside him and said seriously, “Actually, I came to invite you to join my team.”
Liu Mu hesitated.
Then You Xingluo suddenly grinned mischievously.
“It is time to betray Huayu and join me! Come, let us stab him in the back together!”
“….”
Liu Mu fell silent.
He tried to recall the instructions given by the Shao family elders, then muttered, “They really did not tell me you were like this…”
So… should he betray or not?
His thoughts became a mess.
“Work mode and daily personality are different,” You Xingluo said solemnly. “Maintaining a cold image reduces unnecessary trouble.”
“I… understand,” Liu Mu said with difficulty.
He had simply not interacted with this so-called prophet enough before.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. “Why do you want to form a new team?”
He already understood part of the reason.
During the Youth Ability Competition in Central City, he had been on Shao Huayu’s team. The format was similar.
You Xingluo must have noticed his value back then.
“Mainly because I need people,” You Xingluo said, rolling his eyes playfully. “And does this not sound fun?”
…Not really.
“Who is the other teammate?” Liu Mu asked.
“Ji Qing.”
Liu Mu immediately understood. “You are quite close to him. Is there something special about him?”
“Is being the top student not special enough?” You Xingluo smirked. “The Federation rarely produces a genius like him.”
Liu Mu neither agreed nor disagreed.
He had seen countless geniuses in Central City. The three people around him now were all extraordinary.
He had long grown numb to the word “genius.”
You Xingluo did not mind. Instead, he studied Liu Mu carefully.
“Why did you want to warn Xie Chang’an?” he asked.
“He has nothing to do with you.”
Liu Mu shifted back slightly, avoiding his gaze. “I did not do anything against the noble families… it is just… it is not easy for an ordinary person to come this far…”
If he could help, he would.
Though he did not say it aloud, both of them understood.
The more Liu Mu interacted with noble families, the more he realized how difficult life was for ordinary people.
Without talent or background, climbing upward was nearly impossible.
You Xingluo chuckled. “You do not treat Ji Qing the same way.”
Liu Mu frowned. “Does he need my help?”
The answer was obvious.
Ji Qing’s talent alone was enough to dominate the Ability world. In Central City, invitations from noble families would have already piled up.
And besides…
Liu Mu glanced at You Xingluo and thought bitterly: is this not already proof?
You Xingluo summarized, “So you think Xie Chang’an can go further?”
“…Is that strange?” Liu Mu replied quietly.
He knew Zhou Que’s strength—and precisely because he knew it, he understood that Xie Chang’an’s victory was no coincidence.
“Most people would bet on the candidate I support,” You Xingluo said with a smile. “But your judgment is also correct. A prophet does not fabricate truths.”
Liu Mu froze.
Hearing his thoughts affirmed left him stunned.
“…Is that so…”
Sometimes, he truly wanted to see the world through a prophet’s eyes.
“Forget that.” You Xingluo suddenly pressed his shoulder firmly. “You must join my team! I want to see where Huayu finds a third member!”
“…Huh?”
“And honestly, your situation is not good,” You Xingluo said seriously. “For a support-type, you have done well—but your Ability has not had the chance to shine.”
“It is time to join Ji Qing and me—and pave the way for your promotion.”
He emphasized clearly, “Team compatibility is also considered. If you stay with Huayu, it is expected. But if you join us—you will definitely advance.”
“Because you already know all five members of Class S.”
“The school will want you to move up.”
Liu Mu replied with difficulty, “I know…”
“Great. Then welcome aboard!”
“…Fine. Let us do it.”
Even after agreeing, Liu Mu could not help but think about what You Xingluo had said.
Perhaps he was witnessing the rise of a new era.
“…Are there really so many geniuses in this era?” he murmured.
“Not really,” You Xingluo said casually, shrugging.
He smiled.
“No matter how many geniuses there are, only a few can truly shape an era.”
Those who followed the tide—and those who changed it—were not the same.
He just did not know whether he would live to see that moment.
After all, too many people were trying to cut his fate short.