9. Roman
“Hey, Xuanxuan, are you listening?” Hu Tao asked anxiously.
“I’m listening. What time are you going to school tomorrow? How will you get there?” Ning Xuan queried, searching on her holo-screen for the location of Xingluo Bay Intermediate and Advanced Joint Academy.
“Tomorrow, we have the ingredient processing class scheduled from 10 to 11 a.m. and again from 2 to 3 p.m. We only need to be there by 10. Teacher Qu said we can take home half of the ingredients we prepare in class. This time, I’m determined to handle the ingredients perfectly!” Hu Tao assumed Ning Xuan was asking about the class schedule and quickly recited the times from her timetable.
Ning Xuan quickly found the academy’s location—it wasn’t far from her home. There was even a school bus stop close by where she could catch the bus to school.
“Alright, see you tomorrow!” Ning Xuan said, about to end the call.
“Wait, wait, Xuanxuan, are you sure you don’t mind? Jin Rongrong is also Romon’s sycophant and said today she’s going to show you what’s what!” Hu Tao’s choice of words was telling; clearly, among their classmates, Ning Xuan was also seen as Romon’s loyal follower without question.
“What’s there to mind? We’ll talk when we meet tomorrow.” Ning Xuan cut off the call firmly.
Hu Tao stared in disbelief at the ended connection. “He Mo, can you believe it? Xuanxuan said there’s nothing to mind. She used to be so shy. You know, she hasn’t been to school these past few days—could it be that she really went to the Maze of Illusions?”
“If she actually went there, does she even have a chance to come back? Not even spirit controllers dare to venture into the Maze of Illusions out of turn. She’s just an ordinary person—if she goes there, it’s a one-way trip to death,” He Mo said casually.
“But I heard the Martial Arts Department has a new teacher. Apparently, he’s S-class in both psychic power and physical ability, and a young heartthrob. I’m going to audit the martial arts class tomorrow!” He Mo’s spirits lifted the moment he mentioned the handsome guy.
“Stop drooling. That guy just came down from the A-level Star Beast battlefield. They say his psychic powers went berserk so often that he’s now recuperating. You better behave yourself; don’t do anything reckless!” Hu Tao eyed her friends with disdain—one a hopeless romantic, the other lovesick—neither quite normal.
The next day, Ning Xuan took the school bus to the academy. The bus ran on an elevated track that only appeared when the vehicle was in motion. On ordinary days, no one knew where the track was hidden. The advanced technology fascinated her.
Just as Ning Xuan stepped through the school gates and was about to ask someone for directions to the third-year culinary class, someone suddenly patted her shoulder.
“Xuanxuan, Jin Rongrong is heading to the classroom to confront you. Let’s not go there yet. Come with me!” Hu Tao nervously grabbed Ning Xuan’s arm and hurried toward the central building marked as the Martial Arts Department.
“Rongrong, Ning Xuan is right there. She actually dares to get in Romon’s face. Quick, we need to stop her!” a voice called out.
Ning Xuan looked bewildered at the young man emerging from the Martial Arts Department building. If she wasn’t mistaken, she saw a glaring look of disdain in his eyes.
“Ning Xuan, I heard from Ning Fei that your psychic power has awakened. Although it’s a bit late for you, my cousin’s power is only D-class, so you could barely match him. I can introduce you two, but stop coming to me all the time. I’ve said it many times—we’re not compatible!” The young man said arrogantly.