The sixth and seventh-ranked warriors of the first-year class teamed up, yet they were instantly subdued by Qian Jin, currently ranked eighth, leaving them utterly speechless.

Rodriguez swung his fists exuberantly in the air. He had certainly backed the right student; not only could he fight two opponents simultaneously, but he had won the dual in an instant!

“That was magnificent!” Rodriguez laughed happily, his gaze snapping back to the fight scene, only to find that Qian Jin had vanished without anyone noticing. Zelda and Fabukalas’s chest badges were also conspicuously gone, having been casually plucked by Qian Jin.

“More iron-striking? Swinging the hammer with both arms this time?” Principal Fick squinted his withered eyes, pondering deeply as he lowered his head. “Did this kid used to be a blacksmith? Wait, no! Shouldn't a blacksmith only strike iron with one arm? How is this kid so adept at using both arms to strike iron? Does he think his iron-striking stance is some powerful martial art?”

The Dean of Academic Affairs flung his arm dismissively, not even glancing at the two defeated students, and quickly strode into the small grove. He left a few senior warrior students behind to contemplate just how spectacularly cool Qian Jin’s previous fight had been—winning a two-on-one engagement so effortlessly. Among the first-year warriors, perhaps only the top-ranked Dark could possibly challenge him; the others were simply no match!

Rodriguez didn't leave immediately. He rested one hand on his chin, sinking into thought. How long had it been since Qian Jin reached the fifth level of Dou Jin? Theoretically, that made him a fifth-level warrior as well! Did this mean that in terms of raw Dou Jin strength, Qian Jin was already on par with him, his own instructor?

“Vision! I truly have remarkable vision.” Rodriguez laughed toward the sky. “I am growing more expectant, especially for Qian Jin in his third year. Perhaps he will forge a legend for Auckl*nd Academy of Magic and Warriors? Becoming the first warrior to enroll in the High Academy of Fortitude Magic and Warriors! That is the most renowned academy for humans, comparable to the Demon King Academy of the demon race.”

“Ah! I told you, duels are boring,” Qian Jin said, retracting his fists and shaking his neck from side to side. He then patted the two stunned challengers on their shoulders. “You two fought well; keep striving, and you will improve.”

The small grove fell silent. The few senior warrior students present couldn't bring themselves to call Qian Jin arrogant; the instantaneous victory had been truly spectacular.

“Brother-in-law…” Rolin’s excited shout shattered the quiet of the grove.

“Scram!” Qian Jin delivered a kick toward Rolin’s chubby backside.

“Fine, I’m scramming. Does that mean you’ll become my brother-in-law?”

“Classmate, I truly understand your desperate urge to marry off your sister, but you can’t push your friends into an abyss.”

“Classmate, just agree to it already, I wouldn't harm you…”

“I yield to you! I’m outta here first!” Qian Jin turned, spread his legs, and leaped several times before diving into the woods, his figure quickly disappearing among the trees.

“Classmate…” Rolin rubbed his chubby chin, his smiling eyes narrowing to thin slits as he stared at the spot where Qian Jin vanished. “You will definitely become my brother-in-law.”

Night fell, the full moon hanging high overhead.

Auckl*nd Academy of Magic and Warriors, in stark contrast to the daytime bustle, had settled into a state of relative quiet. Most students, having spent the day studying and training, had retired early for rest.

Qian Jin tossed the two badges he had just won in his hand, feeling immensely content. He trotted out of the small grove.

These two badges meant he was significantly closer to the central location of the future Dou Ling Grand Formation. While Qian Jin hadn't wanted to involve himself in these tedious ranking matters before, now that he was entangled, he certainly wasn't going to feign modesty and withdraw.

Since trouble couldn't be avoided, Qian Jin was too lazy to run anymore. The fact that his iron-striking techniques proved so effective in combat delighted him immensely.

Humming a little tune, Qian Jin suddenly stopped. He looked into the distance under the moonlight and spotted a familiar figure near the well, accompanied by two unfamiliar, relatively tall figures.

“Biluo?”

Qian Jin paused, watching Biluo in the moonlight, as she awkwardly dodged between two tall figures who were clearly warrior students, her hands clamped tightly over her large magic hood. It was supposed to be the time for mages to meditate; why was she by the washing well again?

“I say, Biluo, aren’t you tired of wearing that big hat all day? Why not take it off and let us see how ugly you really are? Don’t worry; even though it’s night, no matter how hideous you are, I won’t scream that I’ve seen an undead.”

“Why won’t you take it off? It means you don’t consider us classmates! That makes us very sad. You owe us compensation. If you won’t let us look, you have to wash our clothes—choose for yourself.”

Under the cloak of night, the arrogant voices of two boys echoed repeatedly. Biluo, covering her large hat, ducked her head and dodged repeatedly, saying timidly, “You… you said last time that as long as I washed your clothes once, you wouldn't bully me anymore…”

“We aren’t bullying you,” said the warrior student with a shaved head, his muscular upper body exposed, towering half a head over Qian Jin. He gently tugged at Biluo’s magic hood as if teasing a puppy, smiling. “We are just showing concern for a fellow classmate. But you didn’t appreciate our goodwill and hurt us again.”

“That’s right, that’s right!” The other warrior student, whose hairstyle resembled a rice paddy and who was equally bulky, towering nearly a full head over Qian Jin, spoke with his arms crossed, watching the scene like an audience member. “You hurt the goodwill we showed by caring for you, so it’s only fair that you wash our clothes as compensation. Otherwise, we’ll have to forcibly remove your hat…”

“No…” Biluo’s timid volume rose slightly, her hands pressing even harder against the hat, her voice choked with tears. “Is this the last time I have to wash clothes for you?”

“Of course~~ Of course, this is the last time.”

The two warrior students flashed victorious smiles. Even from his distance, Qian Jin could clearly see that the look in their eyes was far from sincere; it was filled with mockery. It looked just like… just like…

“Just like the look I hate the most!” Qian Jin frowned slightly. That expression stirred up a very unpleasant memory for him.

In the past, when encountering situations that had nothing to do with him, Qian Jin would usually just close his eyes, plug his ears with both hands, pretend not to see, and walk away.

A sense of justice? Qian Jin never considered himself a righteous person or a hero saving people from peril. He was just an unlucky fellow whose bloodline awakening had failed.

:The updater is back again... Send those recommendation tickets~ What are you waiting for regarding member clicks and collections? B