Chapter 98: End of the Examination (2)
Bai Feng grumbled, "That's a genius I found myself. Why must I give him to others?"
He was indeed the one who had discovered Su Yu. Without his willpower text, Liu Wenyan might not even bother writing a willpower text for Su Yu before the examination. After all, Su Yu's willpower was still quite weak.
Why should he give away a genius he had discovered himself? Furthermore, he had even incited his teacher to leave for this matter. It would be a great loss if he gave up now. Also, his good pal Liu Hong was still there waiting for him to work together. Su Yu was an integral part of their plan.
The person on the line couldn't be bothered to argue with Bai Feng. That person said, "Don't keep focusing on your student. You have a heavy mission on your shoulder. The academy might shut down the research center. But because of you, Teacher is not around to handle that! The research center has exhausted a lot of resources without any results for many years. You know how big of a loss we would suffer if the research center is shut.
"Teacher has put a lot of effort into the research center over the years. Almost all the resources available to our faction have been poured into it. Bai Feng, if the research center ends up shut, our future plans will be affected as well."
Bai Feng frowned, "There's an update from the higher ups?"
"Exactly. They are discussing it," the person sighed. "Teacher's reputation is worth a lot, but it has been so many years without any result. The academy has been allocating us funds every year, to the point where the resources meant for other projects have been used on us as well. The principal intends to stop our research for now..."
"Stop?" Bai Feng's face was unsightly. "How are we supposed to stop? We have paid a large price to reach this far. If we stop now, all our previous work would have been for nothing!"
"There's nothing we can do. Unless the research center shows a result immediately and convinces the higher ups, it's hard to change their mind."
"We can't." Bai Feng said, "We still don't have a result yet. There is nothing to show."
"The moment the higher ups pass the motion to shut the research center, we will have to hand up all our data. The research center might be assigned to other researchers instead..."
"That is unacceptable." Bai Feng was furious. "If they do that, all our hard work and Teacher's decades worth of effort will go to waste."
"That's why I said that you shouldn't focus on the student. Instead, you should focus on preserving the research center," said the other person with a sigh. "Pay more attention. Stop getting distracted by minor affairs.
"If you can't solve it, go look for Wu Qi or Xia Yuwen. See if you can get any support. At the very least, you can get some votes in the Heart Cultivating Pavilion."
Bai Feng sullenly said, "I can't. Those fellows don't have a good relationship with me."
"Geniuses place a lot of importance on each other, right? I believe in you. If you really have no choice...just use seduction on Wu Qi. Maybe it will work..."
"Are you looking for a beating?" Bai Feng rolled his eyes. He sighed and said, "It won't work. Wu Qi is strict and does not seem to have any hobbies. Seduction won't work on her. You can try if you want, but I promise you it won't work. Maybe...you can go to the Heart Cultivating Pavilion and seduce an elder instead?"
"Scram!"
After messing with each other for a bit, Bai Feng decided to return to the topic and sternly said, "Alright, let's get down to business. I'll try to persuade a few pavilion elders. Teacher is not around, but we can't stop the project. Otherwise, Teacher will kill me when he returns."
"Put more effort into it."
"I know," Bai Feng said. "Do you think we should get Martial Uncle to help? Although he had left for many years, he still has his network in the academy."
"That can only remain the last resort," the other person replied. "Things like network will only weaken the more you use it. That network is part of the reason Martial Uncle has been able to stay peacefully in Nanyuan for so many years. People are still wary of his network.
"If he uses his network for this, he will have trouble solving the next issue he encounters. Also, Martial Uncle has detached himself from the academy for so many years. It won't benefit him to get involved in this."
Bai Feng nodded. He asked resentfully, "Did the principal say nothing? Is he the one pushing for this or is it someone else?"
"I'm not sure."
"How hard is it to be sure?" Bai Feng complained. "The principal is most likely the culprit."
"That's not necessarily true. We haven't been able to submit any results for so many years. The principal could have shut down our project long ago but he didn't. I don't think it's him."
Bai Feng did not argue. At this point, it no longer mattered. He needed to visit the Heart Cultivating Pavilion and solve this issue. Otherwise, things would be very troublesome if the project was shut. After ending the call, he sank into thought.
He then called a different number. When it was connected, he said, "Try your best to veto the proposal to shut down our research center."
Liu Hong's voice rang out, "Are you really treating me like your underling now?"
"Cut the crap. If you don't help me, our plan will fail the moment the research center is shut. Your backers will take the chance to eat all of us up. And with our defeat, can you keep fishing for benefits from them?
"Do you know what mutual profit is? Without us keeping them busy, as a mere sixth-stage Skysoar cultivator, you won't even be qualified to participate in these games."
"I—" Liu Hong felt like he had made an extremely wrong choice somewhere.
He helplessly said, "Bai Feng, even if that's the case, you're the one begging me for help, not the other way around. Why are you talking with such a cocky tone?"
"The result will be the same either way. I might as well be cocky."
After the arrogant declaration, Bai Feng smiled and said, "We're partners. That's just a joke. Don't take it seriously. Old Liu, you don't want to be stuck, right? With that little salary of yours, you will have no chance to step into the Cloudbreach Realm. Don't tell me you're planning to go to the Allheaven Battlefield instead?"
"..."
Liu Hong could only agree, "Fine. I can help you. But the moment your project is done, I want a share in the profits."
"No problem."
"Your promise means nothing. I'll wait for Senior Hong to return and talk to him myself. He cares a lot more about his reputation than you. He will agree...unless he is as shameless as you."
Bai Feng snorted disdainfully, "Is my teacher such a person? A little villain like you always thinks that everyone thinks like you."
"Bye." Liu Hong couldn't be bothered to argue and ended the call.
Bai Feng rubbed his chin and smiled, "You're getting a share of the profits...but you didn't mention the size of your share. Heh, I'll just give you a tiny share."
"But Liu Hong alone is still not enough..." Bai Feng looked outside the window as he contemplated. He still needed more help.
"I'll deal with Su Yu's matter after he joins."
He wanted to visit Nanyuan, but it looked like he wouldn't have the time to do so. The new semester was only a month away, so he didn't have to wait long for Su Yu to arrive.
...
Nanyuan.
News was starting to spread that for this year's war academy and cultural research examinations, the same student had placed first.
It was Su Yu.
He had defeated the guest students from the capital, including some geniuses who were decently well-known even in the capital.
Su Yu's name spread all over Nanyuan. Of the four entrance examinations, the war and cultural research examinations were the most important. In comparison, the two other examinations that would be held the next day were much less important. Thus, Su Yu's performance shocked many people.
.
...
Chen family's residence.
Chen Qinghe was also in disbelief. At the same time, he was in a melancholic mood. He had known that Su Yu was smart, but being smart was not the same as being capable. Placing first in the two major examinations was not something one could achieve just by being smart.
"Su Yu is going to rise rapidly..."
He then looked at his son who was giggling with a silly expression. He felt extremely helpless. With a wooden stick in hand, he glared at Chen Hao, "Why are you giggling here instead of cultivating outside? Come get your ass whooped!"
Chen Hao was dumbstruck. He had managed to get into a war academy. His father was still mad with joy earlier. Why did he change suddenly?
"You won't remember this if I don't beat you up. Remember, at the capital, stay low profile and don't stir up trouble.
"As for Su Yu, he might be your best friend, but take note of the limit of your friendship. It would be better if you can maintain some distance from him. Silly son, he's a genius. You're not."
While running from his father, Chen Hao complained, "Yu is not that kind of person! He won't look down on others! He won't care whether I'm a genius or not..."
"Foolish." After catching up to his son, Chen Qinghe started beating him up. After a while, he gloomily said, "Idiot! He is a genius. The cultural research academy has been in chaos recently. Everyone knows that. At the capital, his opponents will not be ordinary people. And if they can't do anything to him, won't they do something to you?
"Su Yu does not have a lot of close acquaintances. His father is in the Devil Subduing Army so nobody would dare to touch him. Liu Wenyan is a Skysoar cultural researcher so not many people would dare to provoke him either. You're the exception! You're close to him yet weak and stupid. If you don't want to trouble Su Yu, you better be obedient!
"As the saying goes, when the city gate catches fire, disaster will fall upon the fish in the pond. In this scenario, you'll be the fish! I'm not saying that you should act like a stranger. You just need to be careful and not let everyone know that you're his best friend. That will only trouble both you and him!"
"Father, in that case, just tell me! Why are you beating me?"
"Will you remember my words without a beating?" Chen Qinghe landed another strike on Chen Hao's ass and said, "Don't think that I don’t know about that little diary you keep to record all the beatings you've received from me!"
"Father!"
Chen Hao exclaimed in shock! So his father had been reading his diary?
"Write this down in your diary as well. Write it down clearly. On the 25th of June, your father beat you up."
Chen Hao's wails resounded in the house. He definitely wouldn't forget this. His father was too mean! Why couldn't he talk nicely instead of beating him up?
...
Su Yu was naturally unaware of what was happening in the Chen family. He was also unaware of the chaos unfolding in the academy. His willpower and Divine Character exhaustion did not allow him to spare any energy to think about all that. The moment he was home, he went to bed. While sleeping, the golden book in his mind pulsed. Then, source qi started gathering around him.
A large amount of source qi entered Su Yu's body. However, it was the book that had absorbed all the source qi. After filtering the source qi, the book released gusts of numerous different energy into his sea of willpower.
The two dim Divine Characters seemed to have received some nourishment as they both started regaining their luster. Su Yu's drained willpower also started recovering. The frown he had instinctively maintained during sleep finally unfurled while the dull ache in his head slowly vanished.