However, while Zhang Wen managed to remain composed on this side, Zack and Cloud, who had been eavesdropping behind the screen the entire time, grew increasingly anxious. After all, they had placed all their hopes on Zhang Wen. If Zhang Wen couldn’t teach the martial arts classes, given their current progress in martial arts, it would take at least three to five years before they could meet the standards to return home! For two young men born into top noble families and hailed as prodigies since childhood, this was absolutely intolerable!
“No way!” The two exchanged a glance, and the more impulsive Zack couldn’t help himself—he pushed aside the screen and strode forward to stand before Principal Jakefleet.
However, while Zhang Wen could remain composed, Zack and Cloud, who had been eavesdropping behind the screen, were growing increasingly anxious. After all, they had pinned all their hopes on Zhang Wen. If Zhang Wen couldn’t teach in the martial arts department, given their current progress, it would take them at least three to five years to meet the standards required to return home! For two young men from top aristocratic families, who had been hailed as geniuses since childhood, this was absolutely intolerable!
“No way!” The two exchanged a glance, and the more impulsive Zack couldn’t help but push aside the screen and stride up to Principal Jackfleet.
“Principal Jackfleet, Instructor Xin, please agree to let Instructor Zhang teach us martial arts! This is the wish of all our classmates!” Zack first bowed to the principal and the chief instructor before eagerly speaking up.
“Why? Why insist on having someone whose martial arts level is below fifth rank teach? Are you saying that all the other instructors in the martial arts department are inferior to him?” Instructor Xin, growing increasingly flustered, pointed at Zhang Wen and retorted.
“Well…” This question from Instructor Xin indeed stumped Zack. If Zack admitted that all the instructors in the martial arts department were inferior to Zhang Wen, wouldn’t that offend every single one of them? As a student of the martial arts department, no matter how arrogant Zack might be, he couldn’t possibly antagonize all the instructors!
Seeing Zack at a loss for words, Instructor Xin couldn’t help but smirk triumphantly at Principal Jackfleet. But unexpectedly, at that moment, Carrie, the governor’s daughter who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up: “Instructor Xin, aren’t you aware of the state of our martial arts department at Almis Academy?”
“You…” Instructor Xin was so choked by Carrie’s words that he nearly fainted. He glared at her furiously, but she met his gaze without fear. What infuriated him the most was that, faced with Carrie’s unwavering stare, he couldn’t come up with a single rebuttal despite racking his brain! His face flushed red with anger, and his breathing became heavy.
“Instructor Xin, Instructor Xin,” Fox gently tugged at him just as his anger was about to reach its peak.
“Hmm?” Instructor Xin glared at Carrie and Zack once more before turning to listen to Fox’s whispered words.
“Instructor Xin, Zhang Wen wanting to join the martial arts department is actually a great opportunity for us! Why are you pushing it away?” Fox, seeing that Instructor Xin was willing to listen, quickly leaned in and whispered excitedly.
“An opportunity? How is it an opportunity? Explain it to me, or I won’t let you off today!” Instructor Xin didn’t speak, but his eyes clearly conveyed his doubt and threat.
“Hehe! Instructor Xin, even the wise can make mistakes. Remember? In a few days, the delegation from Themis Academy will be visiting our school. At that time, our martial arts department will need an instructor to lead a team to compete with them. Who do you plan to have lead the team this year?” Fox chuckled and asked.
“Well…” Instructor Xin’s brow furrowed immediately.
In fact, the key reason why the martial arts department at Almis Academy had become a public laughing stock was precisely because of the annual visits from Themis Academy.
Over the twenty years of mutual visits between Themis Academy and Almis Academy, Almis Academy’s magic department had almost always managed to secure small victories, earning the respect of Themis Academy’s magic department. However, Almis Academy’s martial arts department had consistently suffered crushing defeats. The instructor leading the martial arts team had become a laughingstock, subjected to humiliation.
As a result, the position of leading instructor for the martial arts department at Almis Academy had become the least desirable. Every year when Themis Academy’s delegation arrived, the instructors in the martial arts department would vanish like they were avoiding the plague.
Last year, when Instructor Xin couldn’t find anyone else, he had to ask Fox to step in. After Themis Academy’s delegation left, Fox was the subject of ridicule among the magic department instructors for nearly half a month. This year, not only would Instructor Xin find it difficult to ask Fox for help again, but Fox himself probably wouldn’t agree to take on such a thankless task.
“Hehe! Instructor Xin, since that guy is so eager to join the martial arts department, why not let him lead the team?” Fox pointed at Zhang Wen with a sly smile and continued in a low voice, “Moreover, when he leads the team and gets humiliated, becoming the laughingstock of the entire school, you can justifiably expel him. That way, he won’t have the face to talk about joining our martial arts department again. It’s a win-win situation!”
“Hmm!” Fox’s words made Instructor Xin’s eyes light up. However, his excitement quickly turned to frustration. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Instructor Xin glared at Fox. He hadn’t thought of Fox’s plan earlier and had already spoken firmly in front of Principal Jackfleet. Now, it would be awkward for him to backtrack and agree.
Fox, ever the “strategist” for Instructor Xin, immediately understood his dilemma. He shook his head with a smile and whispered, “Ah, it’s fine. You can still refuse to let him teach the regular martial arts courses, but why not let him open a supplementary course?”
“Hmm! That’s a good idea.” After a moment of thought, Instructor Xin’s anger turned to satisfaction, and he nodded approvingly at Fox.
“Alright!” Turning back, Instructor Xin spoke in a magnanimous tone to Principal Jackfleet and Zhang Wen, “Since so many students are requesting it, we instructors can’t be too stingy. If you want Instructor Zhang to open a course, I agree.”
As soon as Instructor Xin finished speaking, Zack and Cloud exchanged delighted glances, while Zhang Wen’s expression became somewhat enigmatic. Although Instructor Xin and Fox had whispered, Zhang Wen’s acute hearing had caught every word.
Zhang Wen was fully aware of their scheme. However, he had no intention of exposing them or fleeing like the other instructors in the martial arts department. For Zhang Wen, this was yet another challenging opportunity placed before him.
“Themis Academy’s delegation, huh? Let’s see what I can do before they arrive at Almis Academy,” Zhang Wen thought with a cryptic smile.
Meanwhile, Instructor Xin continued to speak loudly to Principal Jackfleet and the students, “Instructor Zhang can open a course. But I stand by my earlier statement. A fifth-rank martial artist teaching in our department is unacceptable. So, he can’t teach the regular martial arts courses. He can only open a supplementary course. Any students interested can attend on their own. Is that acceptable?”
“Absolutely! Of course, it’s acceptable!” Zack and the others were overjoyed that Instructor Xin had agreed to let Zhang Wen teach. They couldn’t think of anything else.
“Alright then. Since Instructor Xin and the students have no objections, it’s settled,” Principal Jackfleet concluded, officially transforming Zhang Wen from a disciplinary committee teacher to a supplementary course instructor in the martial arts department.
The students, having achieved their goal, dispersed happily. However, as Zhang Wen left the disciplinary committee’s office, he was immediately called back. “Instructor Zhang,” Fox appeared with Instructor Xin, both wearing smiles.
Worried that Zhang Wen might vanish like the other martial arts instructors upon hearing about Themis Academy’s visit, they had sought him out before he could even assume his new role.
“Instructor Fox, what can I do for you?” Zhang Wen approached with a smile. He knew exactly why Fox had come, but he chose to play along.
“Hehe, Instructor Zhang. In less than half a year, you’ve gone from a disciplinary committee teacher to the martial arts department. Congratulations!” Fox, in high spirits, exchanged pleasantries before getting to the point. “Instructor Zhang, you must know that Themis Academy’s delegation will be visiting our school early next month.”
“Yes, I’ve heard a bit about it,” Zhang Wen nodded.
“Good, good that you know,” Fox beamed, exchanging a glance with Instructor Xin.
Instructor Xin stepped forward and said arrogantly, “Instructor Zhang, my opposition to your joining the martial arts department isn’t due to a lack of trust in your abilities. It’s just that your martial arts rank is too low, and I’m concerned that other instructors might object. However, there’s an opportunity now. Themis Academy’s delegation is coming. You can lead a team from our martial arts department to compete with theirs. If you can bring glory to Almis Academy, the others will have nothing to say.”
“Hehe! Instructor Zhang, I wish you a victorious start!” Fox, fearing Zhang Wen might refuse, quickly cut off any potential retreat.
“If it’s Instructor Xin’s request, I’ll do my best,” Zhang Wen replied with a faint smile, seemingly oblivious to the trap Fox and Xin had set.
“Haha!” Watching Zhang Wen walk away, Fox and Instructor Xin exchanged satisfied smiles before leaving the disciplinary committee.
With Zhang Wen now ensnared in their trap, Fox and Instructor Xin didn’t make things difficult for him in his supplementary course. On the contrary, they enthusiastically helped him complete all the necessary paperwork that very afternoon. The course was named “Combat Techniques,” as per Zhang Wen’s request.
Meanwhile, Fox took the opportunity to spread the news throughout the academy that “Instructor Zhang will lead the team against Themis Academy’s martial arts department.”
By late afternoon, the teachers were already abuzz with discussions. Some praised Zhang Wen’s courage, while others thought he was overestimating himself. A few shrewd individuals sensed a hint of conspiracy. However, with the academy’s chief instructor, Instructor Xin, on one side and the insignificant supplementary course instructor, Zhang Wen, on the other, these shrewd individuals wisely chose to remain silent.
In the magic department, Lenora also heard about Zhang Wen’s upcoming challenge from her colleagues.
“Haha! Instructor Lenora, have you heard? That guy Zhang Wen, who got in through the governor’s connections, has joined the martial arts department and is going to lead a team against Themis Academy! Haha!” The speaker was a young instructor in his thirties from the magic department.
This young instructor had nothing but disdain for Zhang Wen, who he believed had only gotten into the academy through connections. Even as he shared the latest news with Lenora, he couldn’t help but gloat, as if he could already see Zhang Wen’s inevitable humiliation at the hands of Themis Academy’s delegation.
“Really?” Lenora murmured softly, then gave the slightly older instructor a faint smile. “Instructor Robert, the way you’re talking, it sounds like you’re hoping for Almis Academy to lose. You should be careful. You were so loud just now that the entire magic department heard you. If word gets back to Instructor Xin in the martial arts department, it could spell trouble for you.”
Lenora’s words immediately drained the color from the young instructor’s face, who had been basking in her charming smile. He suddenly remembered the “terrifying” methods Instructor Xin used to deal with magic instructors who looked down on the martial arts department.
“Uh… haha, the weather’s nice today. I’ll be going now,” the young instructor quickly excused himself and vanished from Lenora’s sight.
“Hehe,” Lenora chuckled softly as she watched him leave, her expression shifting from disdain to curiosity. “Zhang Wen… he probably can’t win against Themis Academy either. What will happen then?” She mused to herself before composing herself and stepping into her classroom with her usual enchanting smile.
In any case, thanks to Instructor Fox’s promotion, Zhang Wen’s role as the team leader was set in stone. With the news spreading like wildfire among the students and faculty, Zhang Wen had no way to back out.
Another consequence of this was that when Zhang Wen’s supplementary course began the next morning, very few students showed up. On the third training field arranged by Instructor Xin, Zhang Wen found only four students standing alone in a space that could accommodate over a hundred, a sight that was both pitiful and somewhat heroic.
Faced with this sparse turnout, Zhang Wen remained calm. It was obvious to everyone that after losing to Themis Academy, Zhang Wen’s only fate would be expulsion from the martial arts department. Once expelled, his course would no longer count for credits. Moreover, why would anyone willingly subject themselves to the humiliation of being Zhang Wen’s student when they knew he was doomed to fail? The students of Almis Academy were no fools!
Thus, when Zhang Wen heard the rumors spreading across the academy the previous afternoon about his upcoming challenge, he had already anticipated the turnout for his class.
In fact, the presence of four students was somewhat surprising to Zhang Wen. And when he recognized who they were, he was even more astonished. Aside from Zack and Cloud, the other two students were Amelie and Carrie!
“Why are you two here?” Zhang Wen asked with a faint smile, looking at the two girls standing alongside Zack. “Aren’t you students of the magic department?”
“Well, Instructor Zhang…” Zack stepped forward to explain, but Amelie beat him to it.
“Hehe! Instructor Zhang, you really don’t know much about our academy, do you?” Amelie grinned mischievously and explained in her clear, melodious voice, “Almis Academy is different from other imperial academies. Especially for us in the magic department, we’re required to take martial arts courses! The academy mandates that all magic students must complete at least three martial arts courses to graduate. And Carrie here is even more impressive! She’s taken all the required martial arts courses and is ranked among the top ten in the martial arts department!”
“Indeed. Miss Carrie puts us boys to shame!” Zack and Cloud couldn’t help but agree.
“Ah, I see,” Zhang Wen nodded thoughtfully with a smile. Since joining Almis Academy, he had been preoccupied with his duties in the disciplinary committee and his personal training, leaving little time to study the academy’s various regulations.
Carrie, though proud, was somewhat embarrassed by the praise. Seeing Zhang Wen lost in thought, she quickly changed the subject, “Instructor Zhang, I heard you’re going to lead our martial arts department against Themis Academy?”
Though Carrie’s intention was merely to shift the conversation, her question happened to touch on the very topic everyone was most curious about. Soon, all eyes turned to Zhang Wen.
“Indeed. You’re well-informed,” Zhang Wen admitted with a smile.
“Well-informed? The whole academy knows!” Amelie exaggeratedly muttered.
“Instructor Zhang, why did you agree to this?” Carrie pressed, her tone tinged with urgency.
“Why shouldn’t I agree?” Zhang Wen countered with an amused smile.
“Well…” Faced with Zack and Cloud, Carrie hesitated. She couldn’t outright tell Zhang Wen that Almis Academy’s martial arts department was a joke and that leading them against Themis Academy was a guaranteed loss.
“Hehe, I know what you’re thinking. You’re worried I might lose, right?” Zhang Wen voiced Carrie’s unspoken concern.
“Yes!” Carrie nodded emphatically.
“Why? Why must you insist on having someone who’s barely reached level five in martial arts teach the class? Could it be that all the other instructors in the martial arts department are not good enough for you?” Instructor Xin, growing increasingly agitated, pointed at Zhang Wen in rebuttal.
“This…” The question caught Zack off guard. If he admitted that all the martial arts instructors were inferior to Zhang Wen, wouldn’t that offend every single one of them? As a martial arts student, no matter how arrogant Zack might be, he couldn’t possibly oppose all the instructors!
Seeing Zack at a loss, Instructor Xin couldn’t help but smirk smugly at Principal Jakefleet. Unexpectedly, just at that moment, the governor’s daughter, Lady Charlette, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke up coldly: “Instructor Xin, surely you know what the martial arts department of Almeyth Academy is like?”
“You…” Instructor Xin was nearly choked by Charlette’s words. He glared furiously at her, but she met his gaze without flinching. What infuriated him the most was that, under Charlette’s unwavering stare, he couldn’t even come up with a single argument to counter her! His face flushed red with rage, his breathing growing heavier and heavier.
“Instructor Xin, Instructor Xin,” Just as Xin’s anger was about to reach its peak, Fox tugged gently at his sleeve.
“Hmm?” Xin angrily shot glances at both Charlette and Zack before finally turning his ear to listen to Fox’s whisper.
“Instructor Xin, that Zhang Wen wanting to teach in the martial arts department is actually a great opportunity for us! Why would you push such a good thing away?” As soon as he saw Xin willing to listen, Fox eagerly leaned in and whispered joyfully.
“Opportunity? How could this possibly be an opportunity? You better explain yourself properly, or I won’t let you off easily today!” Though Xin didn’t speak, his eyes clearly conveyed his doubts and threats.
“Hehe! Instructor Xin, even the wisest sometimes make mistakes. Don’t you remember? In a few days, the delegation from Themis Academy will be visiting our school. At that time, our martial arts department will need an instructor to lead a team for a friendly match. Who are you planning to send this year?” Fox chuckled and whispered the question to Xin.
“This…” Xin immediately furrowed his brows.
In fact, the key reason why Almeyth Academy’s martial arts department had become a public laughingstock lay precisely in these annual visits from Themis Academy.
Throughout the twenty-year reciprocal visits between Themis Academy and Almeyth Academy, Almeyth’s psionics department had almost always managed to win small victories, earning the respect of Themis’s psionics students and instructors. However, Almeyth’s martial arts department had consistently suffered crushing defeats. The martial arts team leader had practically become a laughingstock, subject to endless humiliation.
As a result, the position of martial arts team leader at Almeyth Academy had become the most undesirable job. Every year when the Themis delegation approached, the martial arts instructors at Almeyth would scatter like frightened birds, avoiding the responsibility like a plague.
Last year, when Xin couldn’t find anyone else, he had no choice but to ask Fox to step in. After Themis’s delegation left, Fox endured nearly half a month of ridicule from the psionics instructors, unable to hold his head high. This year, not only was it difficult for Xin to ask Fox again, but Fox himself probably wouldn’t agree to take on such a thankless task.
“Hehe! Instructor Xin, since that kid is so eager to join the martial arts department, why not just let him lead the team?” Fox smiled and pointed at Zhang Wen while whispering, “And when he inevitably gets humiliated during the match, becoming the laughingstock of the entire school, you can then officially expel him. That way, he won’t dare to talk about joining our martial arts department again. It’s a win-win situation!”
“Ah!” Fox’s words lit up Xin’s eyes. However, after a brief moment of excitement, he suddenly grew frustrated. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Xin glared at Fox in annoyance. He hadn’t thought of Fox’s reasoning earlier and had already spoken too definitively in front of Principal Jakefleet. Now asking him to reverse his decision would cost him face.
Fox, who was known as Xin’s “strategist,” immediately understood Xin’s thoughts upon seeing his expression. He smiled and whispered, “Don’t worry. You don’t have to agree to let him teach the official martial arts courses, but you can let him offer an optional course separately.”
“Ah! That’s also a solution.” After a moment of contemplation, Xin’s anger turned to satisfaction, and he nodded approvingly at Fox.
“Alright then!” Turning around, Xin spoke loudly, as if magnanimously yielding, to Principal Jakefleet and the others, “Since so many students have requested it, we instructors shouldn’t be too stingy. I agree to let this Teacher Zhang offer a course.”
As soon as Xin finished speaking, Zack and Cloud exchanged delighted glances, while Zhang Wen’s expression was hard to decipher. Although Xin and Fox had whispered their conversation, with Zhang Wen’s current acute hearing, he had caught every word.
Zhang Wen fully understood their scheme. However, he had no intention of exposing them, nor did he plan to flee like the other martial arts instructors. To Zhang Wen, this was yet another challenge placed before him.
“The Themis Academy delegation, huh? Let’s see what I can accomplish before they arrive at Almeyth Academy,” Zhang Wen mused with an enigmatic smile.
Meanwhile, Xin continued to address Principal Jakefleet, Zack, and the others in his booming voice: “Allowing Teacher Zhang to offer a course is fine. However, I must reiterate—having someone at level five in martial arts teach as a formal instructor in our martial arts department is simply unacceptable. Therefore, he cannot teach any of our official martial arts courses. He can only offer an optional course. Any student interested can attend voluntarily. No problem, right?”
“No problem! Of course not!” Zack and the others were already overjoyed at Xin’s agreement to let Zhang Wen teach, so how could they possibly think of anything else?
“Fine then. Since Instructor Xin and the students have no objections, it’s settled.” Finally, Principal Jakefleet sealed the decision, transforming Zhang Wen from a discipline committee teacher into an optional martial arts instructor.
The delighted students dispersed joyfully. As Zhang Wen was about to leave the discipline committee office, he was called back. “Teacher Zhang.” With a smile, Fox appeared alongside Instructor Xin.
They were afraid that Zhang Wen might flee like the other martial arts instructors upon hearing about the Themis delegation, so they couldn’t wait to approach him before he even officially took up his post.
“Teacher Zhang, anything I can help with?” Zhang Wen smiled as he stepped forward. He naturally knew why Fox had come, but since he had already decided to play along, he didn’t expose their intentions.
“Hehe, Teacher Zhang. Being promoted from a discipline committee teacher to the martial arts department in less than half a year—congratulations!” Fox, in a cheerful mood, exchanged a glance with Xin before continuing, “Teacher Zhang, you must have heard that the Themis Academy delegation will be visiting our academy next month?”
“Yes, I’ve heard a little,” Zhang Wen replied with a nod.
“Hehe, good to hear that,” Fox smiled broadly, exchanging another glance with Xin.
Instructor Xin stepped forward and said proudly, “Teacher Zhang, my objection to your joining the martial arts department isn’t due to a lack of confidence in your abilities. It’s just that your martial arts level is too low. I was worried that if we let you in directly, other instructors might raise objections. However, now there’s a perfect opportunity. The Themis Academy delegation is coming. At that time, our martial arts department will be led by you to compete against Themis’s martial arts students. As long as you can bring honor to Almeyth Academy, the others will have nothing to say.”
“Hehe! Teacher Zhang, we’ll wish you success in advance!” Fox, fearing that Zhang Wen might refuse, immediately cut off any possibility of retreat as soon as Xin finished speaking.
“Since it’s Instructor Xin’s request, I’ll certainly do my best,” Zhang Wen said with a faint smile, seemingly unaware of the conspiracy, and easily stepping into their “trap.”
“Hahaha!” Watching Zhang Wen’s retreating figure, Fox and Xin exchanged a satisfied smile and left the discipline committee office equally content.
Now that Zhang Wen had stepped into Fox and Xin’s “trap,” the two naturally had no intention of making things difficult for his optional course. On the contrary, they enthusiastically helped Zhang Wen complete all the procedures for offering the optional course that very afternoon. As for the name of the course, it was entirely according to Zhang Wen’s request, called “Combative Techniques Class.”
Meanwhile, Fox took the opportunity to spread the news throughout the academy that “Teacher Zhang will lead the team to challenge the martial arts department of Themis Academy.”
Later that afternoon, the news had already spread among the teachers. Some admired Zhang Wen’s courage, while others thought he was overestimating his abilities. A few perceptive individuals even sensed a hint of conspiracy in the situation. However, on one side stood Xin, the academy’s chief instructor, and on the other, Zhang Wen, an insignificant martial arts optional course teacher. These perceptive individuals wisely chose to keep their mouths shut.
In the psionics department, Linoa also heard the news about Zhang Wen leading the team from her colleagues.
“Haha! Teacher Linoa, have you heard? That guy who got into the academy through the governor’s connections—Zhang Wen. Today, he actually joined the martial arts department and even claimed he would lead a team to challenge Themis Academy’s martial artists. Haha!” The one speaking to Linoa was a young instructor in the psionics department, barely over thirty years old.
This young instructor held Zhang Wen, who had entered the academy through connections, in complete contempt. Even while using this latest news to flatter Linoa, he couldn’t help but speak with a tone of schadenfreude, as if already envisioning Zhang Wen’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Themis Academy’s delegation.
“Is that so?” Linoa murmured softly, then smiled faintly at the young instructor, who was a few years her senior. “Teacher Robert, from your tone, it sounds like you’re hoping for Almeyth Academy to lose. I suggest you be careful. You were shouting so loudly just now that everyone in the psionics department must have heard. If this reaches Instructor Xin’s ears in the martial arts department, it might bring you some trouble.”
Linoa’s few words immediately turned the young instructor’s face pale, his earlier admiration for her charming smile forgotten. He had just remembered how “terrifying” Xin could be when dealing with psionics instructors who looked down on the martial arts department.
“Er… Ha… Haha, the weather is really nice today. I should be going now.” The young instructor hurriedly chuckled awkwardly and disappeared from Linoa’s sight without a trace.
“Hehe.” Watching the young instructor’s retreating figure, Linoa first gave a disdainful smile, then her expression shifted to one of mild interest. “Zhang Wen… He probably won’t be able to defeat Themis Academy either. Hehe! I wonder what will happen then?” Linoa murmured to herself with a faint smile before regaining her composure and walking into her classroom with her usual charming smile.
In short, thanks to Fox’s promotion efforts, the matter of Zhang Wen leading the team was now set in stone. Through word of mouth across the entire academy, Zhang Wen had no chance of backing out.
Another consequence of this was that the next morning, when Zhang Wen’s optional course began, very few students showed up to sign up. On Training Ground No. 3 arranged by Instructor Xin, Zhang Wen only saw four people. Standing alone in a training ground that could accommodate over a hundred people, they looked rather pitiful.
Facing this embarrassing scene of sparse attendance, Zhang Wen remained surprisingly calm. Everyone could imagine that after Zhang Wen faced Themis Academy and lost the match, the only outcome awaiting him would be expulsion from the martial arts department. Once expelled, his course would no longer count toward academic credits. Moreover, wouldn’t it be “shameful” to become a student of someone destined to be humiliated? The students at Almeyth Academy were no fools!
Therefore, the previous afternoon, when Zhang Wen heard the rumors spreading across the academy about him leading the team, he had already anticipated what the scene would be like today.
In fact, the fact that four students showed up at his training ground was already quite surprising to Zhang Wen. When he saw who the four students were, he was even more astonished. Besides Zack and Cloud, the other two students were none other than Amyris and Charlette!
“Why are you two here?” Zhang Wen looked at the two girls standing alongside Zack and smiled faintly as he asked, “Aren’t you students from the psionics department?”
“Uh, Teacher Zhang…” Zack stepped forward, eager to explain, but was beaten to it by Amyris on the other side.
“Hehe! Teacher Zhang, you really don’t know much about our academy!” Amyris playfully stuck her tongue out at Zhang Wen and explained in a crisp, pleasant voice, “Almeyth Academy is different from other academies in the Empire. Especially for students in the psionics department, we are required to study martial arts courses as well! The academy requires all psionics students to complete at least three martial arts courses before graduation. As for Senior Charlette, she’s even more impressive! She has completed all the required martial arts courses and is considered one of the top ten martial artists in the department!”
“That’s right. Miss Charlette really makes us guys feel ashamed!” Zack and Cloud couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“Oh! I see.” Zhang Wen smiled thoughtfully. Ever since entering Almeyth Academy, he had been busy with discipline committee work and personal cultivation, so he hadn’t really studied the academy’s various regulations in detail.
Though proud by nature, Charlette still felt a bit embarrassed at being openly praised like this. Seeing Zhang Wen smiling in contemplation, she quickly said, “Teacher Zhang, have you really decided to be our academy’s martial arts team leader to challenge Themis Academy?”
Though Charlette’s intention was just to change the subject, her question coincidentally hit the very point everyone was most curious about. Soon, everyone turned their eyes to Zhang Wen.
“That’s right. You all have good sources of information,” Zhang Wen smiled and readily admitted.
“Good sources? The whole academy already knows!” Amyris exaggerated with a pout.
“Teacher Zhang, why did you agree to this condition?” Charlette then anxiously asked again.
“Why shouldn’t I agree?” Zhang Wen chuckled and countered with a question.
“This…” In front of Zack and Cloud, Charlette found herself at a loss for words. She couldn’t possibly tell Zhang Wen bluntly: Our Almeyth Academy’s martial arts department is the worst of the worst. Taking the martial arts students to challenge Themis Academy is a guaranteed loss.
“Hehe, you don’t have to say it. I know what you’re thinking,” Zhang Wen then spoke for Charlette.
“Yeah!” Charlette nodded heavily.
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