Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17: I Hope You Stay This Arrogant Forever
Li Mu ended with a soft snort.
Every mind present went blank.
Especially the students standing not far away.
Wild!
Too wild!!
Your school looks down on me and on my school?
Then in my eyes, your so-called powerful school is worth less than dog shit!
All the students were stunned.
Was Li Mu really not afraid of offending Jinhua High School?
“What did you just say!?”
Sun Tong was so furious that his face turned green and purple. Grinding his teeth, he let his aura surge abruptly.
BOOM!
Yin Changming and Zhao Qingshan stepped forward at the same time, blocking Li Mu.
Behind them, the aura of the school leaders rose all at once, instantly suppressing Sun Tong.
Blackwater High School only suffered from poor student quality and scarce resources because of real-world circumstances.
That did not mean its teachers were weak.
Sun Tong had risen to the position of Director of Admissions at Jinhua through connections.
His own strength was not that great.
Even Zhao Qingshan was a full grade above him.
As the pressure of several Fifth- and Sixth-Grade martial artists spread out, the surrounding students were so frightened that they all stumbled backward.
Sun Tong bared his teeth in rage, but knowing the matter could not be escalated too far, he pointed viciously at Li Mu.
“You trash thrown out by the Li Family, do you really think a place like Blackwater High School can protect you?”
Yin Changming’s face darkened at once, and he barked coldly, “Sun Tong, I’m warning you. Whatever happens between our schools, we’ll settle it openly and aboveboard!”
“But if you dare play dirty in private and target my student—”
“I’ll fight you to the bitter end!”
Sun Tong let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“Yin Changming, there’s no point saying such nonsense!”
He turned to Li Mu and said through gritted teeth, “Li Mu, you probably don’t know how Jinhua High School got where it is today, do you?”
“Listen carefully. If I don’t get your student status stripped within ten days, then my surname isn’t Sun!”
“And once you’re out of the school system, let’s see how well I can make you suffer!”
“And you too, Yin Changming. Just you wait!”
Li Mu had long since heard about what Jinhua High School relied on.
Behind Jinhua High School stood a major financial conglomerate.
It was never easy for a school to rise.
Yet Jinhua High School had forced its way up through sheer financial power and terrifying connections.
The conglomerate behind it had used money to extend its influence into every walk of life.
Even into some of the higher levels.
Li Mu had long heard that the conglomerate backing Jinhua High School wanted to extend its hand into the Abyss-Suppressing Army as well.
Building ties with the military was the ultimate pursuit of every force in society.
Only by obtaining the military as a powerful backer could one move everywhere without hindrance.
But the Abyss-Suppressing Army was truly not something ordinary people could casually reach into.
There was an old saying among the common folk.
“A sack of rice never breeds outside worms.”
The interests within the Abyss-Suppressing Army that could be carved up were not even enough for the military brats and official brats to fight over among themselves.
If outside forces wanted to interfere, the first thing they would be touching was that group’s interests.
Many people could not even get past them.
If you tried to take their slice of cake, one of them might put a knife in you first!
That was why any outside power trying to open up military connections would face not only enormous difficulty, but also the need to proceed with extreme caution.
“Oh? So you really have that much ability?”
Li Mu asked with feigned surprise.
“Don’t you go grinning at me like that, brat.”
“There will be a time for you to cry.”
“Aren’t you fond of acting arrogant? Then I hope you stay arrogant forever!”
Sun Tong gave a cold laugh, jabbed a finger at Li Mu, and turned to leave.
At that very moment, the sound of horses neighing rose from the long street, followed immediately by the clear thunder of galloping hooves.
Everyone’s attention was drawn over at once.
More than a dozen towering monster horses came charging over, dust billowing wherever they passed, while pedestrians and vehicles alike hurried out of the way.
One did not even need to look closely to know it was the Abyss-Suppressing Army.
Because within Ironhand City, only motor vehicles were permitted on the roads.
Even Beast-Tamers had to register their beasts before they could ride them on the streets.
Only the Abyss-Suppressing Army was allowed to ride warhorses through the city.
That was a privilege!
First, warhorses were much faster than ordinary cars.
Second, the Abyss-Suppressing Army was accustomed to fighting on horseback within the Abyss.
If they had to carry out missions within the city, horses were more flexible than machines and far more mobile.
As they drew closer, every horse could be seen carrying a warrior dressed in the combat uniform of the Abyss-Suppressing Army.
At the very front was a one-star Junior Wolf Guard.
Yin Changming and the others instinctively stepped back a little.
Everyone thought the Abyss-Suppressing Army was merely passing by on official business.
Yet to their surprise, the riders reined in together right in front of the gates of Blackwater High School.
Then, in perfect unison, they swung down from their horses.
The Junior Wolf Guard at the front strode quickly up to Li Mu and, with a crisp motion, gave him a standard Knight’s Salute.
In this High-Martial World, because the Abyss-Suppressing Army was cavalry, the salute they used was the Knight’s Salute.
The left hand went behind the back, while the right hand clenched into a fist and was held horizontally before the chest. Then the right hand opened into a palm and swept swiftly downward to the right until it was level with the hip.
When the right hand moved, it resembled the slashing motion of a hand blade.
“Student Li Mu, Director Song and Professor Xu request your presence. There is an important matter to discuss.”
“I have been ordered to escort you to the Abyss. This way, please!”
Even as he spoke, the Junior Wolf Guard’s eyes were filled with shock.
He was the officer responsible for guarding the Research Department.
He knew a little about the influence wielded by Professor Xu and Director Song.
That afternoon, all he had known was that Professor Xu, Director Song, and the others had fallen asleep.
That was not unusual. They often rested quickly after overexhausting their minds in order to recover.
But after the two big shots woke up, they had gone half-mad searching for a student named Li Mu.
Only after questioning Assistant Liu did he learn what had happened.
Right afterward, Professor Xu had ordered him to ride at top speed and bring Li Mu over.
Before leaving, he had even seen Qin Zhanye enter the Research Department.
And those people had not summoned Li Mu for just any reason.
They were actually setting a banquet and inviting this student named Li Mu!
It had to be known that Director Song and Professor Xu were usually extremely frugal.
Nearly all of their time and energy was poured into researching techniques.
What they hated most was the whole business of entertaining guests and returning favors, and they loathed lavish drinking feasts even more.
Even a figure like Qin Zhanye, when he had wanted to drink with Professor Xu and the others in the past,
had often been refused by Professor Xu without hesitation.
“Principal, should I go?”
Li Mu turned and asked Yin Changming.
Yin Changming and the others were already so shocked that they stood there dumbstruck.
That was a Junior Wolf Guard.
Although he was only a lower-ranking officer, even the lowest-ranking officers of the Abyss-Suppressing Army had an extraordinarily high threshold!
And what had those people just said?
What professor, what director, wanting Li Mu to come discuss important matters??
“Ah! Yes, yes, yes, go quickly, go quickly. Important matters come first!”
Yin Changming hurriedly came back to himself and lightly pushed Li Mu on the shoulder.
Li Mu pulled out the Horse Token and gave it a shake.
With a rustling flourish, Yaogu leaped out.
The students of Blackwater High School immediately erupted in cries of astonishment.
A black horse with silver mane, twin horns, and twin bony protrusions—majestic and handsome.
How many high school students could possibly own a warhorse?
“I’ll ride after you, then?” Li Mu asked the Junior Wolf Guard.
“Good!” The Junior Wolf Guard nodded, though he could not help glancing sideways at Yaogu.
That horse actually looked even more magnificent than his own.
He had not expected Li Mu to possess a monster horse as well.
Had this kid already joined the Reserve ahead of time?
If so, then Professor Xu and the others inviting him over would make sense...
Wait.
How did that make any sense?
This kid was simply a monster!!
Li Mu swung himself up onto the horse.
Looking down from above, he glanced at the completely dumbfounded Sun Tong and said calmly,
“Director Sun.”
“Ah... ah??”
The Director of Admissions of Jinhua High School, Sun Tong, went pale at Li Mu’s one call.
He looked at Li Mu in horror, with a smile on his face that looked neither like a smile nor a cry.
He was completely stunned. How could Li Mu possibly have ties to the military district?
A Junior Wolf Guard had actually come to fetch him?
Could it be his father’s old connections from the past?
He pleaded at Li Mu with his eyes, hoping desperately that Li Mu would not bring up what had just happened.
Better yet, that he would not mention it even after going into the Abyss!
Otherwise, if Li Mu stirred things up even a little and caused the Abyss-Suppressing Army to develop a bad impression of Jinhua High School, then it would affect the next stage of Jinhua High School’s plan to build toward military ties.
And if that happened, his life would truly become worse than death!!
Li Mu was not that merciful.
In truth, telling this Junior Wolf Guard about what had happened earlier would not accomplish much.
But Sun Tong did not know what kind of relationship Li Mu had with these people.
Li Mu simply wanted to watch him scare himself half to death.
It was amusing!
“If your Jinhua High School wants to ruin me, then come at me directly.”
“Don’t set your sights on our school.”
“I’m begging you...”