When Chu Ran and Jian arrived at the cafeteria, it was just as classes ended, and a flood of students poured in.
Eyes sized them up, whispers never ceasing.
"She really came to the Third Training Institute?"
"I thought it was a rumor. After all, the Central First Military Academy sent her an admission letter. Why would anyone choose this place?"
"Your rumor's wrong. The First Military Academy didn't send her an admission letter. But the First and Second Training Institutes did invite her to enroll."
"Why? Even though the Seventh Sub-Star can't compare to the Central Star's talent pool, killing an A-level Zerg meets the First Military Academy's admission standards, right? Lots of graduates haven't even killed an A-level Zerg!"
"Is that something I can know? I can only be sure it's luck that the First Military Academy didn't admit her."
"Even so, she could have gone to the First Training Institute. Outstanding graduates from the First get early recruitment by the military and the Spiritist Association. The Second only gets the top ten comprehensive scores. Here, we've never seen anyone come to recruit."
"Her strength might not meet the First's requirements either," someone finally couldn't suppress the sourness in his heart and muttered quietly. "I'm not denying her achievements in the Zerg invasion, but before that, she was a total nobody!"
Silence fell around him.
His companions exchanged glances. Was this guy out of his mind?
Seeing no one interrupt him, Wang Junran's voice grew louder. "Earlier they said her spiritual power was permanently stuck at F-level. Just because she burst out at a critical moment, does that mean her combat power is on par with the legion commander?"
"Her registered spiritual power is B-level. That means she might not even be able to successfully invite a god now, and besides..."
"Besides what?"
Wang Junran suddenly felt a shadow over his head. His words cut off. He looked up and saw Jian smiling at him with murderous intent.
"I..." Wang Junran wanted to act tough, but then remembered Jian could already invite a god. He swallowed his words and forced a smile. "Jian, I didn't say anything. You guys here for lunch?"
He looked at Chu Ran, unsure how much they'd heard, and asked cautiously, "Are you eating in the cafeteria? I had people save seats, but it's crowded now. Might not find any."
His companions couldn't help laughing at his swift capitulation. "Wang Junran, your face changes faster than a chameleon. Maybe you should change your name to Wang Chameleon."
Wang Junran gritted his molars but didn't dare retort. Forget Jian—he absolutely couldn't afford to offend Chu Ran now. If the instructor heard his words, being confined to the isolation room would be light.
He lowered his head, forcing down his resentment, and quickly found an excuse. "Sorry, I... I was just thinking about Wang Bao not being able to attend school, so I misspoke."
Jian pressed on his shoulder, the force turning Wang Junran's face pale instantly. "But I was the one who seriously injured Wang Bao. Why slander Chu Ran? A week ago, you were probably trembling in front of the live broadcast, even scared enough to piss yourself, right?"
Jian's voice was soft, and her harmless face made it seem especially non-aggressive. But Wang Junran's companions gasped. Well, no need for lunch—straight to the infirmary.
They weren't stupid freshmen who thought Jian was a pushover just because she couldn't use her S-level spiritual power. Back when Jian had a temper, the infirmary was full of patients she'd beaten up.
"I, I..." Wang Junran couldn't form a full sentence from the pain.
"Are you related to Wang Bao?" Chu Ran stepped forward, smiling. "Then you must be related to the Chu Family."
Wang Junran shuddered. He hadn't expected Chu Ran to be so sharp. He looked up and met Chu Ran's eyes, devoid of any smile. A chill rose from his feet.
He was Wang Bao's cousin. Through Wang Bao's mother, he'd always liked to throw the Chu family's weight around. Most importantly, he'd seen Chu Ran before.
On Chu Zhenzhen's fifth birthday, the Chu family threw a grand party. They invited many people—even someone like him, who wasn't really a proper relative, could score an invite by being close to Wang Bao.
That time, he saw what nobility was.
The coming and going crowd, the luxurious venue—all made him keenly feel the gap between classes.
Yet in this lofty Chu family, there was a third-generation direct descendant with no status.
He followed Wang Bao and watched as the Chu family kids surrounded Chu Ran, taunting her loudly. "Poor kid without a mother! The waste can't compare to your little sister!"
"You don't deserve to be a Chu!"
That time, Chu Ran beat them up badly, but Old Master Chu forced her to apologize. Seeing the suppressed unwillingness in Chu Ran's eyes, he felt so good.
So what if she was a Chu? She still had to bow and apologize to them.
When he saw Chu Ran dominate the live broadcast, the relief of survival was quickly covered by jealousy and resentment.
Why couldn't he be the one in the spotlight?
What gave Chu Ran the right?!
Wang Junran suddenly bent ninety degrees. "I'm sorry..."
The first word barely left his mouth when he was sent flying over ten meters by a single strike.
Pfft!
Wang Junran spat blood and passed out.
Chu Ran spun the black rod in her hand casually, the golden light fading. "I don't accept."
The surroundings fell silent.
No wonder she was Jian's roommate.
Jian's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clapped like a seal, screaming, "Chu Ran, you're amazing!"
Wang Junran's companions exchanged glances. Should they still save him?
They felt that even if they saved his intelligence, it'd be useless.
The leader coughed softly, his voice almost inaudible. "Can't abandon a comrade. Second iron rule of the training institute."
Everyone else looked speechless. Was he even a comrade?