Chapter 21

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Naturally, Xu Zhenyan was immediately aware of Lin Xi's approach. In truth, as soon as the protagonist came within his vicinity, he noticed him. Given who the fellow was, it was impossible for him not to.

Picking idly at his bowl of ginger-pickled trout, he wondered how Lin Xi spotted him through his 'ghost walk'.

'As far as I know, heightened senses aren't part of the reincarnator package.'

In this world, the 'sixth sense' did indeed exist, except it was related to ki. Xu Zhenyan, having his meridians and dantian blasted open by an enormous influx of heaven-and-earth energy, pushed his own into overdrive, but even the average person was somewhat sensitive to ki.

"Hello."

Coming to stand in front of him, Lin Xi gave a simple greeting.

The corner of Xu Zhenyan's lips quirked upwards.

"Extra tables are over there, if you bumpkins need a place to sit."

Leisurely chewing a piece of fish, he gestured over his shoulder.

Lin Xi briefly looked in the direction Xu Zhenyan pointed at.

"Hey, how did you do it?"

He asked the question, curiosity glittering in his eyes. Needless to say, he didn't come here looking for a place to sit.

Xu Zhenyan raised an eyebrow.

"What nonsense are you talking about now…? No, rather than that, stop bothering me and leave. The stench of you peasants is making me lose my appetite."

While making such an extremely offensive statement, he waved his hand dismissively as if trying to rid himself of an annoying fly.

The expressions of the boys behind Lin Xi immediately turned unpleasant, but the fellow himself was otherwise unbothered. After a few seconds spent staring thoughtfully at Xu Zhenyan, a smile broke out on his face.

"My name is Lin Xi, and yours?"

Acting as if he didn't hear the insult, he extended his hand for a handshake.

Xu Zhenyan looked at it in bafflement. Shaking hands simply wasn't a thing here.

"What are you doing…?"

Realizing that he did something strange, Lin Xi withdrew his hand awkwardly.

"It's just a way people greet each other where I'm from."

Xu Zhenyan wore a strange look on his face, like he didn't know whether he just encountered a mental patient.

However, before their conversation could continue, Zhang Ping stepped forward, laying a hand on Lin Xi's shoulder.

"Don't bother with him, he's someone from the Xu family."

The moment they heard his words, the other boys revealed looks of understanding. The Xu family, although currently not as prominent as in the past, was still a name many could recognize.

Among other things, they were known for being… hardasses, for the lack of a better word. Although Xu Zhenyan wouldn't admit it, both he and his brother Jianhong took after Xu Tianwang, who took after his ancestors in turn.

They didn't care much for politics, forging relationships or politeness in general. As a military family, they pursued only two things—martial arts and cultivation. In that sense, the Xu Zhenyan from the novel was very much an oddball, given his obsession with scheming.

However, the current Xu Zhenyan was very much in line with the Xu family 'stereotype', although he'd be loathe to admit it.

"Oh…? Even though you're aware, you still act so casually in my presence?"

Absentmindedly spitting some 'young master' talk, Xu Zhenyan gave the group of kids a once-over. He could identify them easily by their features—the fatty could only be Meng Bai, and the tall, dark-skinned one that just spoke had to be Zhang Ping, given he was a few years older than the rest. That left the last one, a neartly-dressed, handsome youth with short hair.

'He must be Li Kaiyun.'

Xu Zhenyan's gaze lingered on the last two. He felt a sense of hilarity growing in his chest when he though of both their futures.

'This white-bread looking kid actually ends up with the prettiest girl in the academy? I can't believe it. And this Zhang Ping… if I keep looking at him, I might actually start laughing out loud.'

An ambiguous smile surfaced on Xu Zhenyan's face. To think this drug-store brat would one day turn into…

'On top of that, he'll start simping after Qin Xiyue, my fiancée.'

For their part, none of the four boys rose to his provocation. Instead, Zhang Ping steered Lin Xi away from Xu Zhenyan, motioning for the others to follow.

"He's not worth it. Let's go."

Lin Xi let himself be led away. At the same time, he spoke over his shoulder at Xu Zhenyan.

"You shouldn't be so impolite, you know. In the future, any of us could become some kind of bigshot."

The response drew a chuckle out of the 'golden spoon', but he didn't say anything else, simply letting them leave.

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When the four were far enough away, Meng Bai turned to Lin Xi, an expression of bafflement on his face.

"Why did you suddenly want to talk with that guy? Golden spoons like him look down on the rest of us."

For a brief moment, he wondered if Lin Xi batted for the other team. After all, the Xu clan's young master had a face that could make women jealous.

Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Lin Xi stared off into the distance.

"Don't you guys think it's weird? Even though he's such a flashy person, it's like people don't notice him. I wonder if it's some kind of ability."

Li Kaiyun and Meng Bai looked at him strangely, wondering what he was talking about so suddenly. However, Zhang Ping seemed to seriously consider it. After all, he ran into Xu Zhenyan once before. It was indeed strange that he didn't catch his eye.

There was a moment of silence before Lin Xi shook his head, dismissing the matter.

"In any case, I was curious about it, so I thought I'd just ask. Unexpectedly, that guy had such a bad attitude."

Hearing his words, Li Kaiyun looked at him sympathetically.

"You're only from a small village, so it's understandable you don't know. Something like trying to get along with these golden spoons is a pipe dream—they don't even think of us as human."

The atmosphere turned morose as they all reflected on the fact that, despite academy rules, they couldn't escape discrimination. However, a carefree laugh from Lin Xi dispelled the oppressiveness.

"Golden spoons, border barbarians, bumpkins—as long as you apply yourself chasing your dreams, it doesn't matter who you are."

He clenched his fist before lifting it above his head, a gesture of encouragement and determination.

"Anyone can become great!"

The others looked at him with glittering eyes, their spirits lifted. Indeed, Green Luan academy was a place for dreams coming true, and a place that birthed greatness.

If someone was going to be at the top anyway, why couldn't it be them?

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An hour or so after breakfast, assembly was called. The time for admissions had finally come.

A large reception building stood at the foot of the mountain, a stone-tiled square courtyard in its center. Under the guidance of teaching assistants, the thousand plus to-be students were organized into neat rows there.

Under the wide eaves, a staggered platform stood. Some kind of crystal contraption had been set up there, surrounded by various personnel. There was also a podium helmed by a shriveled, grey-haired elder.

"When I call your name, come forward and put your hand on the Soul Inspection Stone."

Surprisingly, there was no ceremony or anything else of the sort. The old man spoke directly before gesturing to the contraption behind him.

"He Lianyu."

While the students were still talking amongst themselves, discussing the purpose of this test, he called out the first applicant's name.

The crowd immediately turned silent, looking toward a ruddy-looking youngster, separating from the group. Self-conscious under so many eyes, he hesitantly made his way up the platform before putting his hand on the strange, transparent crystal.

The moment he did, it lit up, shining with a dim, green light.

"Aptitude three. Head to the back."

Before the youth could even register what happened, the old man spoke again in a dry, emotionless voice.

One of the assistants at his side made a note and a sheepskin booklet before another took him by the shoulder, guiding him through a door at the back.

"Next, Qian Fei."

One by one, students were called forward to test their aptitude. Most of them similarly revealed a green light, setting it as the standard. A few manifested a yellow light, designated 'aptitude two' by the old man. Those who did wore ashamed expressions while being shunted toward the backroom.

"Zhang Ping!"

Eventually, a familiar name was called. Xu Zhenyan watched without surprise as he laid his hand on the crystal, producing a red light for the first time.

"Aptitude four!"

The elder's voice rang out, revealing some emotion for the first time. A commotion started among the students as well.

'Should I kill this pathetic fly before he can make a fool of himself?'

Xu Zhenyan considered this, thinking of what this bean-pole looking fellow would do in the future—by that, he wasn't referring to him lusting after Qin Xiyue, but something else entirely.

'Forget it. By the time he becomes the 'demon king', I'll be an existence he can never hope to challenge.'

A mocking smirk playing across his lips, Xu Zhenyan waited for his name to be called.

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