Chapter 3: Deep Blue City Guardian Commander

Xiao Mei thought she misheard.

Before she could speak, Han Zhen had already brushed past her, completely ignoring her existence.

Immediately after, Han Zhen walked straight to where Xia Youwei was sitting.

"Xia Youwei, would you like to form a contract with me and become my exclusive spirit companion?"

Xia Youwei's eyes widened in disbelief. Her shocked expression resembled a startled fawn, incredibly adorable.

Even more shocked than Xia Youwei were all the other students and teachers of the entire school.

They never expected that Han Zhen, a spirit master with an SSS-grade talent, would ultimately choose Xia Youwei someone with only an E-grade spirit companion, whose transformation form was merely a broken zither.

If it were in the past, every day there would be dozens of people confessing to Xia Youwei like Han Zhen did.

But ever since Xia Youwei awakened only an E-grade talent, those people had disappeared as if they had evaporated, and even her so-called plastic friends stopped pretending.

Slander, isolation, mockery.

Xia Youwei had endured all of it with resilience.

She never thought that an SSS-grade spirit master, a prodigy with infinite potential, would come and say such things to her.

Xiao Mei couldn't understand it at all.

"Why? She's just an E-grade spirit companion. I am an S-grade."

"I'm the Jade Blooded Silver Spear; she's just a broken zither."

"Is it because she looks better than me, more innocent than me, that you chose her? Han Zhen, you're such a scumbag. You're just thinking with your lower half."

Xiao Mei's face twisted with rage. She felt a deep sense of defeat, but more importantly, after she had already stooped so low, Han Zhen still chose Xia Youwei, turning her into a laughingstock.

Han Zhen didn't even bother to acknowledge Xiao Mei behind him.

His gaze remained fixed on Xia Youwei, waiting for her decision.

Xia Youwei opened her mouth, but before she could speak, an unexpected voice suddenly rose from the crowd.

"No, I don't agree!"

"Principal?"

The crowd parted to make way as Principal Chen Guangpu of Qingteng Academy jogged onto the scene.

After his spirit companion perished in a fierce battle against a Zerg invasion, Chen Guangpu had never taken another partner and instead chose to become the principal of Qingteng Academy.

Because of this, Chen Guangpu had always held a high level of respect within the academy.

"You're Han Zhen, right?" Chen Guangpu wiped the sweat from his brow and addressed Han Zhen.

"Young man, it's normal to like someone of the opposite sex, but forming a contract with a spirit companion is not something to take lightly."

"You are the future of the Great Xia Empire. Defeating the Zerg and reclaiming lost territory is the mission of all spirit masters and their companions."

Chen Guangpu spoke earnestly.

"Han Zhen, Principal Chen is right. I'm touched that you'd consider forming a contract with me even after I awakened as an E-grade spirit companion. But you can't do it; it would only harm you."

As Xia Youwei spoke, her head lowered slowly, hiding the sadness and disappointment in her eyes.

Just as Han Zhen was about to explain, a cold snort suddenly broke through the air.

A stern-faced middle-aged man, flanked by a group of people, walked into the training ground.

He glanced at Xiao Mei first, then fixed his gaze on Han Zhen. His pupils briefly contracted before returning to normal.

"Godfather!" Xiao Mei exclaimed joyfully, "Why are you here?"

"How could I not show up when something this big is happening at Qingteng Academy?" the man replied. "And I heard someone, relying on their awakened talent, was bullying my precious goddaughter. Is that true?"

"Deputy Zhao, there's no such thing, no such thing," Chen Guangpu stepped forward with a smile, trying to smooth things over.

At the same time, he shot Han Zhen a look, urging him to say something.

The man in question was Zhao Hu, the deputy captain of the Deep Blue City Guardians.

In the Great Xia Empire, as more spirit masters and companions emerged, the government established the Guardians to maintain peace in every city.

As Guardians, they held considerable power.

But Han Zhen remained silent.

This attitude made Zhao Hu frown in displeasure. "Young man, do you think awakening an SSS-grade talent means you can soar to the top?"

"If I wanted, do you believe I could make it so no spirit companion in Deep Blue City would form a contract with you? At that point, what use would your SSS-grade talent be without a companion?"

"Exactly! Apologize now and form a contract with me. Otherwise, my godfather will ruin you." Xiao Mei added, chiming in to support Zhao Hu.

Looking at the disgusting duo playing off each other, Han Zhen felt nothing but revulsion.

Even in another world, the same old tricks.

'But sorry, this 130-pound body carries 310 pounds of defiance—I specialize in rebellion.'

Han Zhen finally fixed his gaze on Xiao Mei and said three words: "You're not worthy."

"You!" Xiao Mei was livid.

Zhao Hu's eyes widened in fury, and with a wave of his hand, he signaled his men to step forward and teach Han Zhen a lesson.

Chen Guangpu quickly stepped in front of Han Zhen.

"Deputy Zhao, calm down. He has an SSS-grade talent, and I've already reported it to the higher-ups."

"If you act now, how will you explain it when Captain Yi returns from the front lines?"

Chen Guangpu's words carried a subtle warning.

"Are you threatening me?" Zhao Hu glared at Chen Guangpu with predatory eyes. "Fine, I won't touch him. But he must form a contract with this E-grade spirit companion—no exceptions."

"He doesn't want my goddaughter, does he? Fine! Let him contract with this useless spirit companion. When the higher-ups question it, it won't fall on me."

Zhao Hu sneered repeatedly.

An SSS-grade spirit master contracting with an E-grade spirit companion was as good as wasting his potential.

Both Zhao Hu and Chen Guangpu knew what this meant.

The latter's face twitched, but he couldn't argue further under Zhao Hu's oppressive gaze.

He had already done everything he could to protect Han Zhen.

Han Zhen smirked coldly at Zhao Hu, matching his sneer with defiance. "Fine. I'll contract with Xia Youwei. No one can change my decision today."

Han Zhen's resolute words made Xia Youwei raise her head abruptly, her gaze complicated as she looked at him.

"Good, good, good." Zhao Hu laughed coldly, his anger spilling out with each repetition.

"Tomorrow is the spirit master assessment. If I'm not mistaken, failing to pass means exile to the lower districts for both the master and their companion."

"Principal Chen, I'll personally oversee tomorrow's assessment. Let's see if you can still protect him then."

Leaving these words behind, Zhao Hu left with a reluctant Xiao Mei.

Chen Guangpu looked at Han Zhen and Xia Youwei before sighing deeply and walking away.

Xia Youwei hadn't even processed what was happening when a warm hand clasped hers.

"Let's go, campus belle Xia. Time to form our contract," Han Zhen's voice sounded in her ear.

Xia Youwei's eyes instantly welled up, and all the grievances she had endured seemed to explode at that moment.

"I'm sorry, Han Zhen…" she choked out.

"No need to apologize—because you're worth it."

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