Chapter 38 – Xu Qianqian's Taste Is Truly Awful

As for the top student of the Hunter Department and the Academy’s number one hunter trainee, Su Ming had naturally long heard of Li Wei’s reputation.

Although this fourth-year senior didn’t possess as many accolades as Xu Qianqian, that was only because Xu Qianqian’s achievements were too dazzling—it didn’t mean Li Wei lacked accomplishments.

If nothing else, in terms of pure combat ability, this senior was undoubtedly the top-ranked in the Hunter Department, even slightly surpassing Xu Qianqian. To date, there had never been any record of Xu Qianqian outperforming Li Wei in academic results.

While this could be attributed to Xu Qianqian being one year younger and having only trained at the Demon Hunter Academy for two years, considering she came from a hunter family and likely received elite training since childhood, the fact that Li Wei could suppress such a talented individual like Xu Qianqian was enough to prove his innate potential, even if slightly inferior to hers, wasn’t far behind.

After all, this senior also came from remarkable origins—born into the prestigious Li Family of Longyao City, a top-tier hunter family that could rival the Xu Family without much disadvantage.

The only difference was that Li Wei wasn’t a direct descendant of the Li Family but rather from a collateral branch. Compared to Xu Qianqian, whose grandfather was the Family Head and father held a high position in the Base City government, he naturally appeared somewhat inferior.

However, it was said that Li Wei possessed exceptionally pure bloodline, suspected to be a case of atavism, making him no less talented than the direct descendants of the Li Family—perhaps even superior. Consequently, Li Wei had been brought back to the main family for training and was gradually emerging as the leading figure among the Li Family’s new generation.

This resulted in Li Wei’s current talent, potential, and even combat strength allowing him to slightly surpass Xu Qianqian, making him an object of admiration for many junior students at the Demon Hunter Academy.

Now, meeting Li Wei face to face, Su Ming realized the rumors weren’t exaggerated in the slightest.

Although he hadn’t witnessed Li Wei in action, through spiritual perception alone, Su Ming could faintly sense the imposing aura radiating from Li Wei.

This aura was no weaker than that of the formal professional hunters Su Ming had encountered before.

In other words, conservative estimates placed Li Wei’s strength at no less than that of a Professional, and likely beyond just one-star level.

Compared to Lei Hao, such strength was like heaven and earth.

“Impressive,” Su Ming silently praised in his heart.

While Su Ming was observing Li Wei, the latter was actually discreetly assessing Su Ming as well.

Li Wei glanced at Su Ming but didn’t initiate conversation with him, instead persistently engaging Xu Qianqian.

“Everyone’s been looking for you, Qianqian,” Li Wei said with a gentle expression.

“I was just taking a walk,” Xu Qianqian replied, her expression remaining as indifferent as ever, completely different from how she behaved around Su Ming.

When with Su Ming, although Xu Qianqian didn’t show obvious emotions either, she didn’t maintain such a cold demeanor constantly—sometimes she would chuckle softly, other times show surprise or astonishment, her words and actions carrying much more human warmth.

In contrast, when facing Li Wei, Xu Qianqian lived up to her reputation at the Demon Hunter Academy—exceptionally aloof and dominant.

Su Ming didn’t detect any particular aversion from Xu Qianqian toward Li Wei, just that she seemed unwilling to get too close to him.

But Li Wei either didn’t notice this or had grown accustomed to it, paying no mind to her attitude whatsoever.”I know you don’t particularly enjoy being surrounded by too many people, but considering we top students have already formed a team, randomly leaving the group really isn’t a good idea.”

Li Wei smiled somewhat helplessly yet fondly.

Behind him, students nodded one after another, seemingly agreeing with Li Wei’s statement.

These individuals were the top students of the Hunter Department.

At the Demon Hunter Academy, whether in the Hunter Department or Sorcerer Department, those ranked within the top hundred were called elite students, while those in the top ten were referred to as top students.

Thus, the Hunter Department had ten top students and one hundred elite students, while the Sorcerer Department also had ten top students and one hundred elite students, making a total of twenty top students and two hundred elite students across the entire Demon Hunter Academy.

Under such circumstances, as the top-ranked student of the Hunter Department and unquestionably the Academy’s number one Hunter, Li Wei’s team naturally consisted entirely of top students.

Xu Qianqian was notably also in Li Wei’s team.

That’s right—Xu Qianqian had joined Li Wei’s team.

According to her own account, this was the Academy’s requirement, apparently intending to gather some of the most outstanding students into one team, concentrating the Academy’s finest combat forces to handle missions of higher difficulty.

When Su Ming learned about this, he had mentally patted himself on the back for his foresight.

“See? I told you standing out too much in this world isn’t a good thing. Now you’re being assigned, aren’t you?”

To combat the threats posed by Phantom Demons and the Spirit Demon Abyss, it was commonplace for both the Academy and Base Cities to assign high-difficulty missions to powerful Professionals and require them to form teams.

Refusing such arrangements was not an option.

Because you never knew if the mission you declined might become the reason an entire Base City fell, or whether your loved ones and friends would die as a result.

Moreover, the various privileges and benefits afforded to Professionals far exceeded those available to ordinary people. If you didn’t want your license revoked, obediently following orders was the only path.

This was one of the harsh realities of this world.

Faced with Phantom Demons and the Spirit Demon Abyss, humanity was truly vulnerable—they had no choice but to give their all.

Hunters and Sorcerers weren’t free professions; their roles were more akin to soldiers and super-soldiers.

Of course, Professionals weren’t as strictly regimented as military personnel. When no emergencies arose, they could still choose their own missions—this was another privilege Base Cities granted Professionals, allowing them to relax during non-critical periods since excessive restrictions would only breed resentment.

During such times, minor Professionals who remained outside higher-ups’ radar naturally enjoyed the greatest freedom.

After all, even if there were high-difficulty missions that absolutely needed completion, they wouldn’t fall to these less capable minor Professionals.

For this reason, in every Base City, mid-level and grassroots Professionals enjoyed the most freedom, while high-ranking Professionals had to rush about for humanity’s safety—traveling far and wide, risking life and limb, facing countless dangers, with death potentially waiting around any corner.

Su Ming deeply admired these Upper-Rank Professionals who dedicated themselves to humanity’s survival, but he had no desire to emulate them.

The reason was simple: he didn’t want to die.As someone who had inexplicably Transmigrated from a peaceful world, asking Su Ming to risk his life for strangers would only be putting him in an awkward position.

Rather than gambling for survival through life-and-death struggles every day, Su Ming preferred to develop overwhelming strength before sweeping through challenges effortlessly.

Not only would this eliminate the need for desperate fights, but it would also allow him to contribute some human effort – how perfect was that?

For this reason, Su Ming decided to lay low and develop his power, crafting his “Shili Slope Sword God” plan.

Xu Qianqian clearly lacked such a convenient position. For the so-called greater good, she could only join Li Wei’s team.

However, the Academy Beauty evidently disliked mingling with these top students.

“I’m just chatting with my friend. Is that not allowed?”

Xu Qianqian replied to Li Wei so bluntly, showing him no face at all. Just as rumors described, her tone was filled with confrontational energy.

“Friend?”

Li Wei didn’t mind Xu Qianqian’s attitude, but he reacted to her choice of words.

Not only Li Wei, but everyone else’s expressions turned peculiar.

It couldn’t be helped.

“This is the first time I’ve heard you say you have a friend, Qianqian,” Li Wei remarked.

Indeed.

This was the first time Young Miss Xu had ever acknowledged having a friend.

In the past, this young lady had been quite the individualist, with virtually no close classmates or friends around her – not even among the same gender.

Yet now, she had declared this publicly.

Therefore…

“I’d really like to get to know this friend of yours.”

With these words, Li Wei finally turned and cast his gaze upon Su Ming.

Then, Li Wei smiled.

“You must be the legendary Su Ming, my junior, I presume?” Li Wei extended his hand toward Su Ming. “I’ve long heard of your reputation.”

Upon hearing this, the entire scene fell silent.

Everyone watched Li Wei and Su Ming, some with strange expressions, some with amused looks – reactions varied across the board.

“Brother Su Ming…”

An Zijin instinctively clung to Su Ming’s arm.

Lei Hao and Ye Bai both showed concerned expressions.

As for Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu, they exchanged glances and held their breath, seemingly afraid to make a sound.

Xu Qianqian even furrowed her brow, about to say something, but Su Ming’s actions interrupted her.

“What reputation could I possibly have, Senior Li Wei?” Su Ming gently freed himself from An Zijin’s grasp and met Li Wei’s gaze. “If we’re talking about reputations, shouldn’t I be the one who’s long admired yours?”

As he spoke, Su Ming also extended his hand and shook Li Wei’s.

“Please don’t say that,” Li Wei’s eyes flickered as he smiled. “Anyone valued and recognized as a friend by Qianqian must have something extraordinary about them. There’s no need for such modesty, junior.”

“Then Senior will likely be disappointed,” Su Ming revealed a brighter smile than Li Wei’s, yet said: “I know exactly what I’m capable of.”

Indeed, no one understood Su Ming’s strength better than himself.

That’s precisely why he wouldn’t expose it.

Li Wei seemed somewhat skeptical of Su Ming’s claim, or perhaps this person simply wanted to test Su Ming and see what made him special.

“My junior is truly humble,” Li Wei said, narrowing his eyes. “I trust Qianqian’s judgment.””Is that so?” Su Ming suddenly joked, “Could it be that you’ve never secretly thought in your heart, Senior, that Xu Qianqian has terrible taste? That someone as outstanding as you wasn’t chosen, while she actually took a liking to an unknown ordinary student like me?”

As these words fell, everyone present was stunned.

Even Xu Qianqian raised an eyebrow.

“Uh… Hahahaha!”

Li Wei was also taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“You’re really something, Junior.”

As Li Wei said this, the hand he was shaking with Su Ming’s began unconsciously tightening its grip.

Feeling the pressure, Su Ming’s expression likewise turned playful.

(End of Chapter)