Chapter 94: Freshman Competition

Ji Xiao took a quick shower. When he came out, Mu He was already lying on the bed facing the wall, seemingly asleep.

Ji Xiao sighed.

Might as well sleep.

The next morning, they put on the military academy uniforms that had been handed out and left the dorm.

The dark blue uniforms were understated and well-fitted, without any extra flashy decorations, except for the Imperial Academy’s gold-inlaid emblem gleaming on the chest. A single gold bar on the shoulder marked them as first-year freshmen.

Mu He strode ahead with long legs.

Ji Xiao followed at a leisurely pace behind him.

Mu He’s voice was cold and impatient: “Don’t follow me.”

Ji Xiao said matter-of-factly, “I don’t know the way, but I know you.”

Mu He: “…”

They drifted with the crowd to the welcome station.

The welcome teacher directed them to line up, record their IDs, and then go to the equipment area nearby to pick up their gear for the entrance competition.

Ji Xiao sidled up to Mu He: “What’s the entrance competition?”

Mu He ignored him and walked off.

“I know, I know!” A young man with an earring bounced over to Ji Xiao, flashing a bright smile. “The Imperial Military Academy’s freshman entrance competition is a chance to change your class placement.”

Ji Xiao’s expression was flat: “Oh.” He followed Mu He.

The young man continued eagerly, “The academy places freshmen based on their entrance exam scores. Then on the second day of registration, they hold this competition. The team that takes first place can use their score to move into the super class. Second and third place get into the elite class.”

Ji Xiao: “…” Dad has the plot already, I know all this. Why do I need you to tell me?

“Anyone ranked fourth or below stays in their original class,” the young man clenched his fist. “I was placed in the elite class, but I’m going to give it my all in this competition. If I get lucky and make it into the elite class again, hehehe.”

“…”

“Oh, right, I’m Lu Er. What’s your name?”

“… Wei Jun.”

“Ah, I know you! You’re in the elite class too, and you ranked first in our class on the entrance exam! I remembered you when I saw the class assignments, hehehe.”

“…” Seriously, kid? Can’t you see big brother doesn’t want to talk to you?

“If we end up on the same team, we can charge toward the super class together…”

“…”

“Do you think I’m overreaching?” Lu Er’s smile faded. “I know I’m just a beta, and trying for the super class is a pipe dream. The super class is all double S in spirit and physique, people who excel in every aspect…”

Ji Xiao left him behind and hurried after Mu He, who was walking faster.

Lu Er’s determined voice suddenly sounded beside him: “But I’m the only beta in the elite class! I beat out so many alphas to get into the elite class, even if it was by the skin of my teeth. A person needs dreams!”

Ji Xiao looked at the golden-haired young man who had jogged up to him and kicked him squarely: “Piss off!”

Lu Er, caught off guard, was sent flying. He got up stubbornly: “I won’t give up!”

Today he could enter the elite class as a beta; tomorrow he could enter the super class as a beta!

With the annoyance gone, Ji Xiao caught up to Mu He with a light step: “Mu He…”

“Scram.”

“…” Something’s off.

Ji Xiao didn’t speak again and silently followed him to pick up gear and head for the competition entrance.

The freshman entrance competition would randomly pick five freshmen from the eight hundred to form a team. Each of the eight hundred freshmen had a badge stamped with the school emblem. Besides the badge that each team member should have, each person needed to obtain an additional badge for a chance to qualify.

That meant each team needed at least ten badges to be eligible for scoring.

The first team to reach the finish line would get 100 points, the second 90, and so on.

Each extra badge added one point.

Additionally, all team members needed to reach the finish line together to be scored.

…

In the original plot, Wei Jun encountered a group of teammates he looked down on. He didn’t want to go to the super class and suffer; he preferred to be top dog in the elite class. So after entering the arena, he found a place to rest and didn’t bother trying to score.

After all, he was already placed in the elite class.

Outside the competition entrance, there was an electronic screen. A broadcast was looping a stern voice:

“Welcome, freshmen, to the Imperial Military Academy. As per tradition, this competition will be conducted in teams. Contestants will be airdropped to different locations in the arena. Information on the finish line’s location is within the arena; you will need to search for it yourselves.

When collecting equipment, each of you received a heart rate monitor patch. Please affix it and open the Imperial Military Academy’s internal network. Enter the link in the pinned post, input your student ID and password. After the competition starts, you will see your teammates’ positions and information there.

This is a battle that tests both individual and team cooperation. The competition will be broadcast live on the Star Network. Spectators who wish to watch on-site can also view it on the large screen outside the arena.

Now…”

Ji Xiao unzipped his uniform, affixed the heart rate monitor patch, and said softly, “If we end up on the same team…”

“Yeah, yeah, if we can…” Lu Er popped out from behind him.

Mu He raised his hand and lowered his head to operate his optical computer, logging into the academy’s internal network, ignoring them.

Lu Er: “Wei Jun, we…”

Ji Xiao patted Lu Er on the shoulder and pointed toward someone in the corner: “Hey, classmate, that male schoolmate over there was just checking you out.”

Lu Er whipped his head around: “Really? No way! He’s so good-looking, and I’m just a beta…”

“Go on.”

“But… he’s not looking at me now.”

“He’s shy.”

“But…”

“Don’t chicken out. Go.”

“Well… okay.”

Lu Er straightened his collar, puffed out his chest, and walked over.

Ji Xiao quickly grabbed Mu He’s hand and darted into a corner out of the crowd.

Mu He shook off his hand, his expression cold.

Ji Xiao rubbed his fingertips and smiled gently: “Mu He, don’t you think our pheromones blend well? Like it’s a sign that we’re a good match.”

Mu He: “I’m an alpha.”

“So am I,” Ji Xiao replied, meeting his gaze that looked at him like he was an idiot. “That doesn’t matter.”

“Is that so?” Mu He lowered his head slightly, leaning close to the back of his neck, his voice soft but icy: “Do you want to see how miserable it is to be marked by an alpha?”

Ji Xiao: “?”

Mu He pulled back slightly: “Stop pestering me, or I’ll make you cry.”

Ji Xiao: “?”

The Black Cat: “Why are you laughing?”

[See? He’s got desire for me.]

Black Cat was confused: “How do you figure?”

[Didn’t you catch his last line?]

“Wasn’t that a threat?” Black Cat said helplessly. “Mu He’s just aloof and cold. This reaction to a roommate flirting is pretty normal.”

[Is it?]

Black Cat: “Isn’t it? He didn’t punch you on the spot; that’s already being polite.”

Ji Xiao just smiled without a word.

Yesterday’s pheromone confrontation in the dorm and the bathroom episode must have had some effect.

If he hadn’t misread things, the fleeting expression on Mu He’s face before he turned away…

In the end, it wasn’t that he wasn’t tempted, but that he had reservations.

Understandable. He had followed him for so many years; how could he not be tempted?

If not deeply in love, why follow year after year, getting entangled?

[So foolish.]

Black Cat: “??? You’re the foolish one!”

Ji Xiao: “…”

“Two minutes until the competition starts. Contestants, please move to the entrance. Do not resist after entry. Accept the guidance of the flying robots. After random airdrop, be careful when landing. The robots will release you at an appropriate height.”

The broadcast sounded again.

…

He experienced being airdropped.

After landing, Ji Xiao opened the academy’s internal network, glanced briefly at the green dots representing his four teammates, and closed it.

[Cat, tell me Mu He’s location.]

Black Cat didn’t refuse and gave him directions in his mind.

…

In this freshman competition, none of the twenty people from the super class participated.

The Star Network broadcast was split-screen.

Many viewers kept hopping, choosing which contestants they wanted to follow.

Ji Xiao was good-looking and had a great build, so some people stayed to watch him.

[What’s he doing?]

[Probably meeting up with teammates.]

[This alpha is really handsome. Anyone know who he is?]

[I wonder what his pheromone scent is.]

[Hope he’s not all looks.]

Ji Xiao didn’t want to waste time fighting people, so he deliberately had Black Cat point out a route that avoided others. He strolled along leisurely, but step by step, he was closing in on Mu He.

[Ten minutes in and he hasn’t run into anyone? No way.]

[He’s not not meeting anyone; he just passed some people, right?]

[I bet he’s using his spirit power to sense the surroundings and deliberately avoiding them. Trying to meet up with teammates first, then find a chance to grab badges?]

[Boring. I’m out.]

The remaining viewers were there for Ji Xiao’s looks or had wandered around and found nothing interesting, so they just stuck around.

Another ten minutes passed.

[He stopped!]

[He still hasn’t met his teammates. They must be too far apart, right?]

[Is it possible he wasn’t even trying to meet his teammates?]

[Then what was he doing? Just walking around?]

[Shh, shh, look down there! Something’s about to go down!]

[Whoa, that alpha being surrounded is hot too!]

Ji Xiao sat on a slope, smiling as he watched the scene below.

[What’s he grinning at?]

[Getting ready to hit the bandits and take their loot.]

[Maybe that’s his teammate down there?]

[Or maybe he’s just enjoying the show.]

The one surrounded below was indeed Mu He.

The ones surrounding him were a full team.

The leader was a burly alpha with a crew cut and thick eyebrows: “You can’t take all five of us alone. Don’t waste time. Leave your badge and you can go.”

Mu He stood there with a cold expression: “And if I refuse?”

“Then we’ll kill you!” one of the underlings said harshly.

Mu He’s eyes turned icy. In an instant, he attacked the underling who had spoken, his leg muscles tensing as he delivered a precise, high-angle side kick to the side of his head.

The underling’s pupils contracted, wanting to dodge, but his body couldn’t keep up with his brain. A tremor went through his head, and he was kicked unconscious.

Ji Xiao: “…” This guy really likes using his legs.

[Damn! Those legs are long!]

[No, it’s the force. That guy’s probably got a concussion, right?]

[Honestly, I’m a bit scared he’ll kick someone’s head off…]

“Damn it, get him!”

The remaining four rushed in, but they were like cannon fodder.

No one could land a hit on Mu He. Instead, he kicked each one away with precision.

And every kick was to the chest.

Unlike the first underling who passed out, these guys still had some fight left. They gasped, trying to get up, but pain in their chests sent them crashing back to the ground.

Mu He sneered: “You’re not even worthy of making me use my hands.”

[Exactly! He only used his feet!]

[Where did this freak come from! He really kicked each one!]

[He looks familiar… like I’ve seen him somewhere…]

[Those legs, I love them…]

[Don’t just focus on the legs. His movements are fast and precise, dodging attacks and seizing the moment to strike hard…]

[In under two minutes, he took out a whole team! And these are Imperial Academy students!]

Anyone who got into the Imperial Military Academy had decent physical ability and skills.

To be beaten so easily with no chance to fight back…

[Could this be one of the super class freshmen messing around?]

[Wait, no! You’ve been lying low all this time, why pop up now!]

[Don’t panic. That might be his teammate!]

[Yeah, he was just sitting there watching, so he must be confident in his teammate…]

[He’s being carried. Having such an awesome teammate.]

“Hey, Mu He,”

Ji Xiao stood up and waved at Mu He from the slope.

“Fight me.”

[???]

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