Chapter 5: The Scheming Old Wang

Chu Ming laughed heartily, looking at Jiang Yan with mockery:

“Did you hear that? I’m already an Aperture Opening Martial Artist now. If you kneel and kowtow to me now, I might consider letting you off. Otherwise… heh.”

“Why the hell do you have so much to say?”

Jiang Yan shot forward from his spot, charging straight at Chu Ming’s face. The Trait 【Haste】 activated, making his figure so fast it produced an after-image.

Since he was going to drop out anyway, why not make a big scene? Might as well do whatever felt satisfying.

Chu Ming’s pupils contracted. Seeing Jiang Yan rushing toward him at such speed, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“So fast!”

Bam!

A fist slammed into Chu Ming’s face, sending his teeth flying and his body hurtling backward.

With a loud crash, he smashed into the teacher’s platform, scattering desks and chairs.

The entire class fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“Instantly… defeated?”

Chu Ming let out a few painful groans on the floor. Just as he was about to get up and counterattack, he saw Jiang Yan pressing his advantage and charging at him.

“Damn it, no martial ethics!”

He hurriedly activated his Martial Skill.

“Red Bear Crushing Palm!”

A powerful aura erupted from Chu Ming’s body. The confidence returned to the corners of his mouth, and his gaze toward Jiang Yan held a hint of pity.

“Red Bear Crushing Palm” was a Mystic Grade low-tier Martial Skill, something his family had spent a fortune to obtain. Combined with his Body Tempering Late Stage cultivation, crushing Jiang Yan would be effortless.

If Jiang Yan faced this move, he would either die or be crippled!

Bam!

Their Martial Skills collided. Chu Ming’s Mystic Grade “Red Bear Crushing Palm” versus Jiang Yan’s Yellow Grade “Wild Bull Strength”—the difference seemed obvious at a glance.

Many classmates couldn’t bear to witness the brutal scene and fearfully closed their eyes.

Crack!

With the sound of something breaking, the smile on Chu Ming’s face vanished, replaced by a pig-slaughter-like scream.

“Ahhh! My hand!”

Chu Ming collapsed in pain on the floor. Just now, he felt as if he wasn’t clashing Martial Skills with Jiang Yan but rather smashing his hand against unyielding steel.

His palm fractured instantly, hanging limply.

“My hand! My hand! I won’t be able to take the College Entrance Exam anymore, wuwuwu…”

After suffering a broken bone, Chu Ming, a grown man, actually squatted on the ground weeping in despair, tears and snot streaming down his face.

What did a broken hand mean? It meant he would be unable to take the College Entrance Exam. Against any opponent, he would only be able to flee. This psychological and physical torment instantly crushed Chu Ming.

Several of Chu Ming’s lackeys trembled in fear, crouching in a corner praying Jiang Yan wouldn’t notice them.

Jiang Yan grinned, looking at the others who had mocked him. “No worries, you’ll get the same treatment.”

“No, please don’t…”

Jiang Yan showed no mercy, rewarding each of them with a slap. Their faces instantly swelled up like pig heads.

The remaining students stared in shock, their minds completely failing to process what had just happened.

Someone who hadn’t opened their apertures had actually defeated someone who had. This completely defied their common sense.

The only explanation was: Jiang Yan had also opened his apertures, and had Awakened a Talent far stronger than Chu Ming’s.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the classroom door.

The voices arrived before the people did.

“Everyone, stop right there!”

Several teachers rushed into the room. Wang Zhong, as the homeroom teacher, was prominently among them.

Wang Zhong was in the office looking for forms to fill out when he saw Jiang Yan’s deskmate rush into the classroom in a panic, saying something about Jiang Yan and Chu Ming getting into a fight.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong thought, how could this be allowed?

Chu Ming’s family was somewhat well-off, and the Martial Skills he had mastered were beyond Jiang Yan’s comparison. Out of concern and a sense of responsibility as the homeroom teacher, he rushed over in a fluster.

But when he arrived, he found Chu Ming lying on the ground, groaning in pain, while his own troublesome student stood by watching as if nothing had happened, even casting an apologetic glance his way.

Wang Zhong glared at Jiang Yan before turning to a student and ordering, “Quick, carry Chu Ming to the infirmary.”

After Chu Ming was taken away, Wang Zhong began his questioning.

His gaze swept over the scene as he asked sternly, “What just happened? Why were you fighting in school?”

No one answered, but all eyes turned toward Jiang Yan.

Wang Zhong said, “Jiang Yan, explain what happened.”

Jiang Yan was more than happy to play along with Uncle Wang’s act, pretending to be a frightened student who had caused trouble. He responded in a halting tone, “M-Mr. Wang, didn’t Chu Ming open his Aperture yesterday? Well, I also opened mine. When Chu Ming heard, how could he let it slide? He immediately insisted on sparring with me.”

“Mr. Wang, we really just wanted a one-on-one match. We never expected him to get hurt!”

Jiang Yan spoke with such conviction that, had the other students not witnessed everything firsthand, they might have been fooled.

When the other teachers heard that Jiang Yan had also opened his Aperture, they all looked at Wang Zhong with envy.

Two students in one class opening their Apertures was practically like stumbling upon incredible luck.

Wang Zhong was no fool; he knew Jiang Yan’s nature all too well. Feigning anger, he scolded, “Nonsense! The classroom is no place for sparring.”

“Mr. Wang, I’m sorry. I’m willing to accept punishment.” Jiang Yan put on a remorseful expression.

Wang Zhong snorted coldly, “Hmph, I’ll report this to the principal. You can expect to be expelled.”

The other students: ?

The teachers: ?

Jiang Yan: !

Jiang Yan thought, Damn, Old Wang, as expected of you. The older, the wiser.

Some teachers felt sorry for Jiang Yan, thinking the punishment was too severe, and tried to persuade Wang Zhong.

“Old Wang, isn’t this punishment a bit too harsh? After all, he’s a student who has opened his Aperture. How about this—let him transfer to my class. I, Old Zhang, promise to discipline him properly.”

Wang Zhong glanced at Old Zhang, inwardly sneering, “Heh, Old Zhang, your scheming is practically slapping me in the face.”

But on the surface, he remained righteous and stern. “This incident is too serious. I must give Chu Ming’s parents an explanation.”

“Ah, Old Wang, you…”

Several teachers sighed in regret, all feeling that expulsion was too severe for a student who had opened his Aperture.

If Jiang Yan had failed to open his Aperture, they likely wouldn’t have given him a second glance, let alone pleaded on his behalf. But now that Jiang Yan had opened his Aperture, his admission to university was practically guaranteed. Expelling him like this seemed truly inappropriate.

Indeed, the privileges reserved for Geniuses were hidden in every corner of Martial Artist society. From the very beginning, this world was unfair.

Little did they know that expulsion was merely part of the two’s plan.

Jiang Yan packed his bag and, pretending to be dejected, followed Uncle Wang to the academic affairs office to sign the paperwork.

When the head of the academic affairs office heard that Jiang Yan had opened his Aperture, he tried to persuade Wang Zhong as well.

“Teacher Wang, actually fighting isn’t something we can’t tolerate. Modern technology is advanced, Chu Ming’s hand will heal quickly. Having this child drop out is really…”

“Director, say no more. This kind of incident is too severe, and where there’s a first time, there will be a second. If we show leniency every time, what will other students think?

Establishing a new ethos for No.1 High School starts with me, Old Wang!”

Academic Affairs Director: “Ah, this—”

Damn, this Wang guy’s sense of justice is a bit bizarre!