Chapter 27: After the Banquet

However, when everyone present finally regained their senses, they all shared the same thought: this guy must be insane! Facing Zhang Wen directly, Instructor Enklar simply crossed his arms, looked up at the sky, and assumed an air of disdain, as if refusing to acknowledge Zhang Wen any further.

“What? Instructor Enklar doesn’t believe me? Hehe, that’s fine. But Instructor Enklar, would you be willing to let your talented student here help your Templemis Academy achieve a great feat?” Zhang Wen continued.

“Oh? What new wisdom does Teacher Zhang have to share?” Although Enklar had initially decided not to engage with Zhang Wen, the so-called “madman,” he couldn’t help but respond with a sneer when he heard the words “great feat.”

“It’s simple. If Amelis loses, our Almichus Academy will give up our right to recruit Princess Sophia as a student. All you have to do is defeat her, and you can prepare to welcome Princess Sophia. How about it? Isn’t that a significant achievement?” Zhang Wen asked with a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Hehe!” A flash of delight flickered in Enklar’s eyes before he quickly resumed his cold sneer and shook his head. “Teacher Zhang, you sure talk lightly. But can you really speak for Almichus Academy’s decision?”

“No problem. Teacher Zhang can represent the opinions of our entire Almichus Academy delegation,” Linoah immediately stepped forward without hesitation as Zhang Wen’s gaze swept over her.

“What?” Robert, who had been listless just moments ago, was greatly startled and almost immediately wanted to object.

But at this moment, Carite beat Robert to the punch by shouting, “I support Teacher Zhang too!”

“…Then it’s settled.” Governor Temis thought for a moment before slowly nodding in agreement.

“Are you out of your mind? How could you entrust such an important decision to that guy who isn’t even a formal teacher yet?” Robert whispered furiously at Linoah.

“Hmph! I’m not crazy; you’re just too stupid! Do you think Princess Sophia will still have a chance to enter Almichus Academy if he loses too?” Linoah shot Robert a cold glance and coldly spat out a sentence before ignoring him completely.

“Oh! I didn’t expect Teacher Zhang to be so popular at Almichus Academy. Well then, since everyone’s interested… Jack, you’d better go easy on her later. Don’t hurt her.” Enklar deliberately smiled carelessly and called out the student behind him.

“Yes!” The student named Jack immediately responded and silently walked to the center of the hall.

Although Jack’s mouth didn’t speak with the same levity as Enklar’s, his face clearly showed an air of relaxed disdain. As a martial arts student who had broken through the sixth stage, he naturally couldn’t believe that Amelis, whose combat energy was at most fourth stage, could pose any threat to him.

According to imperial tradition, the guests in the hall quickly cleared a space large enough for the two to display their abilities. Watching Amelis pick up a crystal energy sword and stand before Jack, whose presence and physique were clearly superior, the guests outside the ring couldn’t help but worry whether Amelis had the courage to even endure until the fight began. However, Amelis herself remained much calmer than the surrounding guests.

Soon, Amelis and Jack, now standing face to face, each raised their crystal energy swords.

“Amelis!” Zhang Wen suddenly shouted at this moment.

However, just as everyone thought Zhang Wen had realized he couldn’t hold on any longer and was about to give up and admit defeat, they were once again greatly surprised. Because after Zhang Wen’s shout, Amelis not only didn’t immediately surrender to Jack, but instead, just as Zhang Wen had previously said, she really closed her eyes!

Jack, standing opposite Amelis, was taken aback by the girl’s playful move. He was even somewhat at a loss and looked back at Enklar.

“Don’t mind her little tricks. Take her down,” Enklar casually signaled to Jack with a relaxed smile. In his view, Amelis’s act of closing her eyes was nothing but another trick by Zhang Wen. In the face of absolute strength, all such tricks were nothing but jokes!

“Alright then.” Receiving Enklar’s command, Jack shrugged indifferently and then casually assumed a familiar stance, lightly launching a thrusting move at Amelis.

When Jack executed this thrusting move, he not only used less than thirty percent of his strength but also wasn’t even focused on the technique itself. In Jack’s eyes, using thirty percent of his strength against an opponent who had closed her eyes and whose combat energy was only at the fourth stage was already an exaggeration.

As for Jack’s thoughts at that moment, they were already occupied by his daydreams. He was almost subconsciously thinking about how he would be the hero who brings Princess Sophia back to the academy after defeating Amelis and how warmly he would be welcomed at the academy…

Unfortunately for Jack, he didn’t know that the facts had already proven that when facing Amelis with her eyes closed, a careless first strike was enough to decide his fate.

“Seventeen!” As Zhang Wen shouted the first number, Amelis’s body immediately reacted instinctively. Her crystal energy sword first slashed upward diagonally, then forcefully swung downward sideways, precisely striking the blade Jack had thrust forward.

“Ahh?!” Amelis landed a successful blow with her eyes closed, an unexpected sight that caused many of the surrounding guests to gasp in surprise. Since Zhang Wen had used the secret technique of whispering, which could only be cultivated after reaching the second level of Spring Water Technique, when he called out the numbers to Amelis, none of the guests noticed that Amelis, with her eyes closed, was actually being directed by Zhang Wen!

However, the people who had just assumed that Amelis closing her eyes was Zhang Wen’s way of giving up were suddenly reinvigorated after witnessing this strike. In the blink of an eye, the hall became magically quiet. As for Lasdi and Enklar from Templemis Academy, they both sat up straight in shock, hardly believing what was happening before their eyes.

On the other side, Jack, who had been distracted, also hadn’t expected that Amelis with her eyes closed could launch such a sharp attack. By the time he suddenly realized and prepared to counterattack, a powerful force had already surged from Amelis’s sword, nearly knocking his crystal energy sword out of his hand.

Panicked, Jack could only grip his crystal energy sword tightly and quickly change tactics, attempting to leap backward. But at that moment, a clear “four” reached his ears. Jack didn’t have time to wonder why he had so abruptly heard a number, because he soon discovered that Amelis had, with a speed even faster than his, suddenly chased after him from behind.

The crystal energy sword, shimmering with red light, had already been raised high above her head by Amelis, who kept her eyes tightly shut, as if she might slash down with all her might at any moment! At this moment, Jack also experienced the feeling that Zack had encountered that morning: sometimes, an opponent with their eyes closed could be ten times more terrifying than one with their eyes open!

Next, Jack could only continue to retreat. Amelis, however, quickly closed in, her crystal energy sword, glowing with red light, almost always staying within half a meter of Jack’s vital points. Under Amelis’s suffocating offensive, the match quickly turned into a replay of Amelis’s earlier encounter with Zack—the moment Jack was soon hacked down to the ground, he was mercilessly beaten by Amelis, forced to desperately roll around on the floor to evade her attacks.

Such a ridiculous scene was unfolding right before their eyes, yet not a single guest in the governor’s hall could bring themselves to laugh. Because their emotions had been completely numbed by shock.

This was the martial arts department of the usually feeble Almichus Academy? This was a second-year student from the spell-casting department, whose martial arts skills were only at the fourth level? Yet, she was now in a fair fight… no, in a battle where she had the audacity to keep her eyes closed, chasing a representative from the martial arts department of Templemis Academy, a prodigious student who had already surpassed the sixth level, forcing him to roll helplessly on the ground to escape her assault! Before the match began, even those who trusted Zhang Wen the most probably couldn’t have guessed such an astonishing outcome!

I must be dreaming! This thought involuntarily surfaced in the minds of more than eighty percent of the guests present in the hall at that moment. In fact, many of them even secretly pinched themselves. But the sharp pain reminded them that they weren’t dreaming. What they were witnessing was a genuine reality!

By the end of the battle, Enklar from Templemis Academy had become completely petrified. He even forgot that he could have surrendered early to spare his student some humiliation. As a result, Amelis, right in front of his eyes, placed the crystal energy sword against Jack’s throat.

“Alright, Amelis!” As the crystal energy sword touched Jack’s throat, Zhang Wen also signaled Amelis to open her eyes.

“Oh!” Whether it was because Amelis had already believed this would be the outcome or whether she deliberately wanted to show off her composure in front of everyone, she opened her eyes, showed no sign of surprise at defeating Jack, and calmly sheathed her crystal energy sword before returning to Zhang Wen’s side.

“Hey, Instructor Enklar! This time, it seems I won,” Zhang Wen smiled as he bent down and gently patted the motionless Enklar beside him, who was as still as a fossil.

“This is impossible!” The moment Zhang Wen’s hand touched his shoulder, Enklar suddenly erupted hysterically. “She couldn’t possibly only be fourth stage! How could a fourth-stage martial artist possibly defeat an opponent two stages above her? You must have…” Enklar glared with bloodshot eyes, furiously roaring at Zhang Wen.

“Enklar!” Hearing Enklar’s familiar lines, Lasdi couldn’t help but shout out loud, which finally brought Enklar back to his senses, forcing him to swallow the rest of his accusations.

A martial artist who practices martial arts can clearly sense how many stages their combat energy has reached during a fight. Including Enklar himself, there were at least ten high-level martial artists at the eighth stage or above in the hall, not to mention someone like Shadow Guard Captain Reimue, who had surpassed the tenth stage. If Zhang Wen had lied about Amelis’s martial arts level, he would only be asking for trouble!

Enklar and Lasdi fell into embarrassed silence. From the other side of the hall, however, came the familiar laughter and applause of Captain Reimue of the Eagle Guards.

“Hehe, truly an exciting match, really eye-opening! Teacher Zhang, you really always manage to surprise me. Now, my interest in you is growing even more,” Reimue said as he clapped and stepped forward with his beautiful deputy from the crowd.

“Is that so? I’m truly flattered to receive Captain Reimue’s attention,” Zhang Wen said with a smile, naturally continuing the conversation with Reimue.

As Reimue spoke, the other guests in the hall gradually recovered from their initial disbelief and shock. However, most of them were still too excited to contain themselves.

What had happened tonight seemed like an unbelievable thriller movie. The plot of this “movie” was something even the best guessers probably couldn’t have predicted beforehand.

“Hey! Tonight is really something! The spell-casting department of Templemis Academy thoroughly defeated the spell-casting department of Almichus Academy. But before we could even recover from that, Almichus Academy’s martial arts department casually produced a mere fourth-stage girl who then pounded Templemis Academy’s martial arts representative for quite a while! Well then! This year’s situation is completely the opposite of last year’s!”

“Exactly. Unbelievable, completely unexpected. It seems like there will indeed be a spectacular show at this year’s competition.”

The excited murmurs of the guests soon reached the ears of Governors Karajan and Temiso. For Governor Temiso, who was already satisfied and overjoyed with the result of both sides scoring one point each and ending in a tie, the outcome was pleasing. However, Governor Karajan’s expression was very grim.

Just when they were one step away from having Princess Sophia stay at Templemis Academy, Almichus Academy’s weak martial arts department suddenly disrupted everything. This not only left Governor Karajan deeply disappointed but also made him feel a strong sense of unease.

Governor Karajan clearly understood that although the two academies’ contest tonight ended in a draw on the surface, in reality, Templemis Academy had lost. Because, as Zhang Wen had said, Templemis Academy’s tie with Almichus Academy tonight was not due to any breakthroughs in Templemis Academy’s spell-casting department itself but merely due to the personal talent of Sailing. However, Zhang Wen had been able to train a mere fourth-stage spell-casting student over half a month and turn her into someone capable of directly defeating a sixth-stage expert carefully selected from Templemis Academy’s martial arts department. This ability alone was enough to affect the balance between the two academies!

Damn it! Where on earth did that bastard Temiso dig up such a troublesome fellow? Governor Karajan thought in irritation, barely managing a smile as he exchanged a few polite greetings with Governor Temiso and others before quickly making an excuse to leave the Governor’s Mansion.

Shortly after Governor Karajan’s departure, the delegation from Thales Academy also took their leave. The main events of tonight’s banquet had already played out, and since they hadn’t managed to secure a decisive victory, staying at the banquet any longer would only be a waste of time.

Governor Temiso, with a beaming smile, saw off Governor Karajan and the representatives from Thales Academy. However, once the banquet hall was left only with guests from Kasares, their enthusiasm erupted.

The heroes of the night—Zhang Wen and Amelisse—were quickly surrounded by two groups of excited admirers. Zhang Wen’s situation was relatively manageable; the male nobles surrounding him, at least mindful of their status and decorum, merely tried various ways to pry some inside information from him. Amelisse, however, wasn’t so lucky. Surrounded by noblewomen, she barely had a chance to cry for help before being completely engulfed by the enthusiastic crowd.

Watching helplessly as Amelisse, clearly overwhelmed, was pulled and hugged by the group of noblewomen, Zhang Wen could only shrug, indicating his inability to assist. Then, smiling, he pushed his way through the crowd surrounding him, without even bidding Governor Temiso farewell, and left the Governor’s Mansion directly.

After all, the only reason Zhang Wen had attended tonight’s banquet was at Amelisse’s request. Now that Amelisse had become the banquet’s heroine, he could naturally retire in triumph. At this moment, the guests were clearly far more interested in Amelisse, who had effortlessly defeated an opponent two ranks above her.

However, within the Governor’s Mansion hall, there was certainly no shortage of people who noticed Zhang Wen’s departure. At least among the delegation from the Department of Incantation at Almice Academy, Joliette’s gaze had never left Zhang Wen. As she watched him, Joliette kept gently biting her lip, her expressive and beautiful eyes filled with hesitation.

She hadn’t forgotten the bet she had made with Zhang Wen regarding Luther and Sailing’s match. Now, clearly, she had lost again. And this time, Joliette had to admit, she had been soundly and fairly defeated.

Joliette felt that aside from fulfilling the bet by serving detention in the academy’s isolation room, she also owed Zhang Wen an apology for her earlier recklessness. However, for a young girl to take the initiative to apologize to a single man was always a matter of losing face and causing embarrassment. Therefore, Joliette had been hesitating, hoping to find a moment when fewer outsiders were around Zhang Wen. But before she could get such an opportunity, she saw Zhang Wen walking directly out of the hall.

This sudden turn made Joliette quite anxious. If Zhang Wen immediately took a psychokinetic flying car back upon exiting the mansion, how could she, a young woman, possibly go to his dormitory late at night to apologize?

Thinking of this, Joliette couldn’t help biting her lip harder, suddenly raising her head with determination, and rushed after Zhang Wen. As she walked from the depths of the hall to the front door, Joliette felt her face burning hot the entire time. She was terrified someone might notice her secretly following Zhang Wen and misunderstand the situation.

Fortunately, the guests in the hall were all focused on Amelisse, and even Governor Temiso failed to notice that his daughter had quietly slipped out of the mansion. The only person who probably noticed Joliette’s movements was Reimue, who had been watching Zhang Wen all along.

“Haha,” Reimue chuckled, finishing the wine in his hand and then silently disappearing into the crowd as he watched Joliette rush out the door.

“Teacher Zhang!” Joliette ran out of the mansion and finally caught up with Zhang Wen just as he was about to board the psychokinetic flying car, calling out to him from the roadside.

“Joliette?” Zhang Wen turned around in surprise, seeing Joliette running toward him.

“Yes! It’s me!” Joliette sprinted to Zhang Wen’s side, bent over, hands on her knees, panting heavily. The distance from the Governor’s Mansion to the street by the large square was no short distance. Despite Joliette’s fifth-level martial arts proficiency, running such a long distance nonstop had left her breathless.

“What’s wrong? Why are you in such a hurry chasing after me?” Zhang Wen patted Joliette’s back with a helpless smile.

Soon, Joliette caught her breath. However, just as she straightened up, preparing to say the apology she had rehearsed for so long, her face suddenly flushed again. She had only now realized that, in preparation for tonight’s banquet at the Governor’s Mansion, the surrounding square had been under curfew. On the vast street by the square, aside from a psychokinetic flying car and a beautiful fountain, there were only her and Zhang Wen.

This… wasn’t it practically a date? In such an atmosphere, any girl’s heart would become especially sensitive, and Joliette was no exception.

“Joliette?” Zhang Wen looked at her more curiously. Because Joliette had just run over, her face already flushed with exertion. No matter how sharp Zhang Wen’s senses were, he couldn’t possibly detect the emotional changes within Joliette.

“Um… Teacher Zhang, I came to apologize to you,” Joliette, no less than the student council president of Almice Academy, showed exceptional emotional control. Before Zhang Wen could notice her embarrassment, she had already composed herself and earnestly spoke to him.

“Apologize? Did you do something that requires my forgiveness?” Zhang Wen smiled in reply.

“Yes. Well… I misunderstood you before, and just now at the banquet, I was too impulsive. In short… it was my fault. Please forgive me, Teacher Zhang,” Joliette mumbled, her face red, and finally performed a clean and crisp bow. Being able to avoid Zhang Wen’s amused gaze gave Joliette a huge sigh of relief.

“Haha, it’s nothing. As you said, it was all just a misunderstanding,” Joliette’s frank admission improved Zhang Wen’s impression of the girl. He smiled and waved his hand, then directly sat into the flying car.

“Ah! Wait!” Before Zhang Wen could close the car door, Joliette suddenly shouted anxiously, stopping him.

“What now?” Zhang Wen helplessly raised his head.

“Well… this time, I lost the bet to you again, and I accept the consequences. Please take me to the academy’s detention room,” Joliette hesitated for a moment, then spoke up.

“Huh? That was just a joke, you know. You don’t have to take it seriously,” Zhang Wen laughed.

“No, maybe you saw it as a joke, but I didn’t,” Joliette first said firmly, then immediately turned into a shy, girlish expression, murmuring softly, “Besides, I’ve already skipped out on a debt once before. If I do it again this time, how can I face anyone? Amelisse will definitely mock me endlessly. Anyway, this time’s bet is just one night of detention. I can endure it.”

“Alright, alright. Then get on.” Joliette’s reasoning almost made Zhang Wen laugh and cry at the same time. He never would have imagined that the usually dignified and strong-willed Joliette could have such a girlish side. In any case, Zhang Wen finally made room for Joliette and let her into the psychokinetic flying car. Then, the flying car swiftly started, speeding toward Almice Academy.