The duel between Lian Qiguang and Qiying caused a huge uproar throughout the academy.
After the initial shock, most people were simply eager to watch the show.
Not a single person believed Lian Qiguang would win.
In everyone’s eyes, his actions were nothing short of suicide.
Who was Qiying?
A second-year Combat Department student at Rank Six Soldier-tier.
By all accounts, a talented fighter.
And Lian Qiguang?
Well… he was certainly famous around the academy.
Just famous for one word—
Trash.
As for the person at the center of this entire storm, Lian Qiguang had absolutely no idea how much chaos he had caused.
Because the self-proclaimed genius had once again lost his way in life.
Lian Qiguang stood motionless on the street, expressionless as he stared at the floating cars and aircraft rushing past.
After standing there for nearly an hour, he successfully attracted the attention of patrol robots.
Three of them moved in and surrounded him.
“Excuse me, do you need assistance?”
One robot approached him.
Its red eyes scanned him cautiously for danger.
“I need to go to the plaza.”
After standing there for almost an hour, Lian Qiguang finally saw someone approach.
A faint light flashed in his dull eyes.
He stared straight at the robot and spoke expressionlessly.
“Sir, you’ve been standing here for quite a long time.”
The scan completed.
No threat detected.
The robot canceled its restraint protocol.
“…I got lost.”
After a long silence, Lian Qiguang lowered his head and stared at the ground.
“……”
The robots collectively froze.
They seemed to be struggling with the fact that someone could still get lost so badly that their internal systems nearly short-circuited.
Scene Change
Escorted onto a hovercar by the robots, Lian Qiguang expressionlessly waved goodbye to them.
Under the driver’s strange gaze, he arrived at the same plaza he had visited with Lian Xiaozhu last time.
He remembered to pay.
After stepping out, he ignored the bustling plaza and headed straight toward Yuan Lao’s seed shop with practiced familiarity.
“Look around freely. Pay over there when you’re done.”
Just like before, the one greeting him was still Zhong Jing, slumped over the counter half-asleep.
Lian Qiguang stood at the entrance for a moment.
Then he silently walked to the counter and kicked it.
“Sorry, this seed is out of stock. Please come again next time.”
Without even lifting his head, Zhong Jing scratched his head, changed positions, and continued sleeping.
“……”
Lian Qiguang stared at the fluffy head.
His lips pressed together.
He stepped back.
Raised his leg.
And kicked directly at the man’s head.
BANG!
A loud crash echoed.
Then came a scream.
“AHHHH!! That hurts! Which bastard—”
Clutching his head, Zhong Jing angrily raised his head.
Halfway through his sentence, he froze when he saw Lian Qiguang’s blank face.
“Oh… it’s you.”
Rubbing his head, Zhong Jing stood up.
He had witnessed this guy’s violence firsthand last time.
Swallowing his grievance, he forced a smile.
This guy was dangerous.
Not someone to provoke.
“I’m saying, if you need something, just talk. No need to use violence. That hurts our friendship, right?”
Ignoring his chatter, Lian Qiguang walked past him toward the inner room.
“Hey! Hey! What are you doing?”
Zhong Jing flashed in front of him to block his path.
Lian Qiguang paused.
Then silently pulled out Qianming from storage.
The blade rested against Zhong Jing’s neck.
“H-Hero…”
The icy touch against his neck made Zhong Jing shiver.
He smiled nervously.
“Let’s talk calmly… this blade looks sharp. If your hand slips even a little, I…”
“You little brat! What are you yelling about now?!”
A stern voice came from inside.
With that shout, Yuan Lao emerged from the inner room.
“Master!”
Zhong Jing’s eyes lit up.
“Save your precious disciple! Otherwise you’ll be sending off the young before the old!”
Seeing Yuan Lao, he cried out miserably.
“Ku Mu, little brother.”
Seeing who it was, Yuan Lao looked surprised.
“Yuan Lao.”
Lian Qiguang put away Qianming and greeted him expressionlessly.
“It really is you!”
Yuan Lao’s eyes brightened.
He walked forward and carefully examined him.
“Where have you been these days? After the police took you away last time, I wanted to help get you released, but by the time I arrived, you were already gone.”
“I went home.”
Not knowing how to explain, Lian Qiguang gave a dry answer.
“This time you came for…?”
“To buy seeds.”
His gaze moved to the plants displayed on the virtual screen.
He got straight to the point.
“Come, sit here.”
Yuan Lao led him to the guest table.
“Little Brat, make tea.”
“Master, I just crawled back from death’s door. My young heart has suffered tremendous trauma. As my boss, you should give me a few days off and raise my salary.”
Zhong Jing complained.
“One more word and don’t even think about stepping outside this year.”
Yuan Lao glared.
“No! I’m going!”
Zhong Jing immediately wilted and went to prepare tea.
“What seeds do you want this time? I’ll give you a discount.”
Yuan Lao smiled warmly.
“I’m fighting someone, so I want plants with stronger offensive power.”
“You’re a wood-element ability user?”
Yuan Lao asked.
“Mm.”
Lian Qiguang nodded.
“What rank?”
“…Rank Seven Soldier-tier. I’m stuck there and haven’t broken through.”
Originally, he almost said simply “Level Seven.”
But remembering this planet’s ranking system, he changed his wording.
“Rank Seven Soldier-tier.”
Yuan Lao nodded thoughtfully.
“You’re only around sixteen or seventeen, yet already at that level.”
“That’s quite impressive.”
He didn’t reveal whether he was satisfied.
“If you need offensive plants, I can recommend a few.”
He picked up the virtual terminal and quickly pulled up several species.
“These are mostly common plants found near forest edges.”
“They’re affordable too.”
“Little Brat, prepare fifty seeds of each.”
“Got it…”
came the weak response.
“Three hundred.”
Lian Qiguang interrupted expressionlessly.
Yuan Lao paused.
“Ku Mu, little brother, I selected over ten types.”
“I have money.”
Expressionlessly, Lian Qiguang pulled out a transparent star card.
The “salary card” Xiahou Shaoxuan had given him.
That card…
Yuan Lao’s eyes widened in shock.
A Diamond-tier Star Card.
“Three hundred of each.”
Lian Qiguang pushed the card forward.
“Understood.”
Suppressing his shock, Yuan Lao returned to his usual smile and instructed Zhong Jing to process payment.
When he turned back to Lian Qiguang, there was clearly something different in his gaze.
“Ku Mu, little brother, not long ago I obtained some seeds.”
“I searched many records and ancient books but still couldn’t determine their origins.”
“I wonder if you could help identify them.”
He poured another cup of tea.
“Okay.”
After drinking the tea, Lian Qiguang nodded.
“Thank you.”
“This way.”
Yuan Lao stood.
“You can just call me Ku Mu.”
He wasn’t that young.
“Alright, Ku Mu.”
“……”