Yan Qing was just contemplating how to reply to Li Xiao’s message when he heard an instructor exclaim in surprise across the Academic Affairs Office.

“The management backend has received 1,356 complaints demanding the publication of Li Xiao and Song Jin’s exam papers!”

Hearing this, Yan Qing set his cup down and hurried over to check.

In just that short span of time, the number of complaints had already surged to 1,521.

Clicking randomly into one of the complaints, the stated reason was that when Li Xiao and Song Jin were at the Shengya Central Military Academy, their theoretical examination scores were extremely low, sparking suspicions of cheating in this examination.

“The internal network has exploded with discussion too. A lot of people are saying the questions for this theoretical exam were leaked…”

Several instructors exchanged glances, their eyes stealthily drifting toward Yan Qing.

The responsibility of composing the exam papers rotated among the faculty for every examination cycle. Senior instructors of each subject would submit questions to the designated paper composer, who would then select from the pool, balance the overall difficulty parameters, and make appropriate adaptations.

If the paper composer leaked the questions, securing a perfect score would not be a difficult task.

Yan Qing’s terminal vibrated. Seeing it was Zhang Bin from the General Affairs Division, he felt a massive headache coming on.

He hadn’t expected a casual remark made back then would invite this much trouble.

He picked up the call and hurriedly walked out.

“I’m in the office… heading over now…”

The moment Yan Qing departed, the office erupted into immediate discussion.

“Could the questions really have been leaked?”

“Impossible. Director Yan isn’t that kind of person.”

“But two perfect scores, though? Look at how casually they usually behave during lectures.”

“The complaint count has surpassed three thousand! No examination has ever triggered such a violent backlash afterward.”

In the testing hall lobby, Zheng Lin was the first to dispatch a complaint message to the backend. Glaring at Li Xiao, he spoke out loud intentionally, “Even royalty shouldn’t be allowed to cheat, right? Is this fair to those of us who study diligently?!”

Spurred by Zheng Lin’s words, the students present couldn’t help but harbor doubts of their own.

The scope of this exam paper was exceptionally broad, containing roughly 20% of extracurricular extension questions. Anyone who hadn’t engaged in real combat or dedicated themselves to researching the relevant data would find it incredibly difficult to answer.

Several of Zheng Lin’s lackeys spoke with fierce words, clamoring to file complaints with an attitude as though the evidence was already ironclad.

“Don’t they know how many pounds they actually weigh? To have the face to claim a perfect score.”

“How could they possibly tell how difficult the paper was? They probably just copied the answers wholesale the moment they got them.”

“Did he think that by taking a perfect score, everyone would worship him? Hilarious.”

“Hilarious indeed. How many points did you lot score to be standing here mocking the pinnacle of the board?” Qian Can walked up to those lackeys, flashing a deeply sarcastic smile. “But then again, one can’t entirely blame you. After all, with your IQ parameters, it’s impossible to comprehend that other people can achieve a perfect score.”

Qin Le nodded. “It truly wasn’t difficult. The scope of knowledge points was broad, but not convoluted.”

The students: “…”

You scored 299, of course it wasn’t difficult for you.

Qin Le was the Student Union President of the Central Military Academy; naturally, no one suspected him of cheating.

Jiang Hao echoed, “You don’t represent everyone. As long as you properly complete all your homework on a regular basis, scoring above 270 on this paper shouldn’t be an issue.”

Qian Can and Qin Le shot him a sideways glance: “…”

Merely doing homework really won’t get you a 270, Little Jiang.

“What absolute nonsense are you spouting?” Sure enough, one of Zheng Lin’s lackeys opened his mouth to mock. “Only ten people in the entire year level scored above 270. Are you implying everyone else didn’t do their homework properly?”

Jiang Hao inquired with absolute sincerity, “Is that not the case?”

The group of lackeys felt thoroughly insulted, rolling up their sleeves as they prepared to launch into a barrage of curses.

Qian Can was not one to indulge them; he had never lost a war of words in his life.

Just as a verbal clash between both sides was on the verge of erupting, it was interrupted by a clear, cold laugh.

Song Jin watched this farce with a beaming smile, asking Li Xiao, “Are you Danse people all of this low a caliber?”

Li Xiao replied helplessly, “Individuals of this nature exist everywhere. Don’t include me in your insults.”

Song Jin noted, “Watching them jump around in fury is far more entertaining than the examination.”

Li Xiao: “Mhm.”

The expressions of Zheng Lin and his companions turned horrifyingly dark. Their dignity was being ground into the dirt.

“Why stopped jumping? Keep jumping.” Song Jin prompted lazily, “Daring to publicly slander royalty without a shred of proof—such an exceptional drama can’t be witnessed back in Shengya.”

A thoroughly detached sentence, yet it instantly jolted everyone present awake.

Regardless of whether Li Xiao’s grades were falsified, it should be left to the Academic Affairs Office to investigate, rather than indiscriminately blocking someone here to execute verbal bullying. Zheng Lin had indeed crossed the line too far.

Noticing the shift in the gaze of the surrounding crowd, Zheng Lin knew there was no point in remaining any longer. Turning around to depart, he found his path blocked by Qian Can.

“Did I permit you to leave?” Song Jin spoke up unhurriedly.

Zheng Lin glared over with a freezing face. “What, do you intend to strike me?!”

“You truly are clever.” Song Jin did not deny it in the slightest. Breaking free from Li Xiao’s hand, he walked over and publicly delivered a fist straight to Zheng Lin’s face.

Everyone, including Zheng Lin himself, could not believe that Song Jin would actually strike.

Zheng Lin had also assumed he wouldn’t dare, only to be nearly slapped cleanly onto the wall.

The two closest lackeys snapped back to reality and rushed to support him, catching only Zheng Lin’s clothes in their frantic scramble.

Song Jin planted his foot squarely onto Zheng Lin’s head, his gaze sweeping over the few students who were preparing to move. Applying a slight pressure with his toe, Zheng Lin’s agonizing scream instantly echoed through the lobby.

“Ah—! Let go of me!” Pinned down and unable to budge, Zheng Lin’s face was pressed against the freezing floor, making it difficult to breathe. He was consumed by a mixture of terror and fury.

The few lackeys and others who wished to step forward to mediate dared not make a single reckless move.

“Let go of him this instant! Do you wish to kill him?!” a lackey cursed furiously.

Song Jin countered, “He can insult me, but I can’t strike him? What exactly is he supposed to be? Someone born superior?”

The lackey snapped, “Did he strike a nerve?! Cheating and yet you refuse to let people speak?!”

Song Jin’s toe pressed down once more. “Where is the evidence?”

“Ahhh—! My neck is going to snap, save me!” Zheng Lin screamed hysterically, his hands desperately pounding against the floor.

The others finally realized something was amiss. Song Jin was thoroughly enraged, intent on punishing Zheng Lin as the instigator. They began to urge Zheng Lin to apologize quickly to de-escalate the situation.

“Hurry up and apologize to Song Jin and the Second Prince!”

“You lot truly went too far this time, apologize quickly.”

Suffocating more and more, Zheng Lin truly felt a mortal threat. If Song Jin applied even a fraction more force, his neck would be snapped.

Amidst the chaotic chatter of the crowd’s persuasion, Zheng Lin gritted his teeth. “I’m sorry…”

Song Jin looked down at him with an expressionless face. “I didn’t hear you.”

Zheng Lin roared, “I’m sorry! I apologize for what I stated just now!”

Song Jin pressed, “Apologizing to whom?”

Zheng Lin yelled, “To you and Li—the Second Prince! I’m sorry!”

Song Jin tilted his head toward Li Xiao. “Acceptable?”

Li Xiao pulled Song Jin back, looking down at Zheng Lin on the floor. “Stand up.”

Seeing his expression remained as regular as ever and that he had successfully pacified Song Jin, the crowd assumed the matter was resolved and let out a collective sigh of relief.

Supported by two lackeys, Zheng Lin was shedding tears from sheer terror.

Li Xiao stated detachedly, “Don’t take yourself too seriously. Your surname isn’t Meng.”

Zheng Lin’s face turned burning red, his mind buzzing.

Though delivered without heavy emphasis, the insult carried immense weight.

The spectating students held their breath, not daring to release a sound.

Were there underlying implications within the Second Prince’s words?

Compared to the Meng family, did the royal house simply not place the Zheng family in their eyes at all?

It sounded as though they held the Meng family in higher regard, yet it also felt like a sarcastic jab at the Meng family’s lawlessness.

Before the crowd could fully process the intent behind his words, Jiang Hao suddenly seized Zheng Lin and threw a fist directly across his face.

The crowd instinctively looked toward Li Xiao. Seeing his tacit approval, they understood in an instant, and for a period, no one dared to step forward to stop the fight.

Whoever dared to intervene now would be openly opposing the royal house.

This matter fundamentally stemmed from Zheng Lin’s prior provocation. Even if it was merely to maintain the dignity of the royal family, Li Xiao would ensure Zheng Lin was taught a lesson to execute a warning to the rest.

Zheng Lin was beaten until his face was covered in blood, entirely unable to retaliate. Driven past the threshold of sanity by rage, he delivered a silent behavioral signal to his lackey.

While the crowd’s attention was completely occupied by Zheng Lin’s side, the lackey standing closest to Song Jin and Li Xiao suddenly released his pheromones, lowering his voice to snap viciously, “Beat him to death.”

The scent of rotten tomatoes rapidly diffused. Li Xiao, having caught the subtle interactions between Zheng Lin and the lackey, understood the situation completely.

09: 【Beep beep beep—! Alpha pheromones detected!】

The sharp warning system resonated.

The group of students who had been momentarily dazed by the pheromones snapped awake. The Beta students consciously assisted the Alphas in retreating outside the perimeter of the crowd.

An Alpha pointed at that lackey, “He’s the one who released them!”

The lackey panicked. Having not expected to be exposed so rapidly, he hastily ceased the release and dodged to the side, “I didn’t!”

Li Xiao gestured with his chin toward several Beta students, “Secure him and notify the medical office.”

The Beta students complied immediately, “Understood!”

With a fluid combination, Jiang Hao beat Zheng Lin until he could no longer crawl, silently retracting his hands and stepping back.

By the time the academy physicians arrived, quite a few Alphas present had been affected by the pheromones, their emotions agitated to the point of attacking one another, only to be held down firmly by a group of Betas.

Following a period of chaotic upheaval, everyone was dispatched to the medical office.

Once the crowd departed, Gao Jia and his companion stepped out from the corridor into the lobby, where a faint trace of the pheromone scent could still be detected.

Vice President Qi Lin murmured in a low voice, “The royal house has suddenly turned powerful. It feels as though the skies are about to shift.”

Gao Jia recalled the line Li Xiao had delivered just moments ago. “The one who has turned powerful isn’t the royal house; it is Li Xiao.”

Qi Lin was perplexed. “He has absolutely nothing supporting him from behind, what right does he have to be powerful?”

Gao Jia replied, “The wind appears to contain nothing, yet it can extinguish a massive blaze, or cause a dying ember to flare back to life. We assume he possesses nothing merely because it is invisible to the eyes.”

Qi Lin looked toward Gao Jia. “Then what should we execute?”

“Wait.” Gao Jia walked outward. “Wait for it to ignite, then step forward to add a piece of firewood.”

After finishing lunch and returning to the dormitory, Song Jin grabbed a tub of ice cream and sat before the bar counter. “The Zheng family is in a highly subtle position.”

Zheng Lin clearly understood the capabilities of the modified humans and could even command them to act, indicating that the Zheng family occupied a dominant position regarding the matter of modified humans.

“Mhm.”

Li Xiao instructed 09 to retrieve Wei Wen’s scores for this cycle.

A virtual screen displaying the rank outcomes popped up before him, with the 48th position highlighted in red.

Looking down the parameters, Wei Wen ranked 58th in practical combat and 39th in the theoretical exam, securing 48th on the comprehensive board.

In his view, this score was considerably exceptional.

Li Xiao stated, “Elevate the monitoring parameters on Wei Wen. Report immediately the moment he establishes contact with Zheng Lin.”

09: 【Understood.】

Song Jin scooped a spoonful and fed it to Li Xiao. “If these two families form an alliance, they won’t be easy to handle.”

Eating the ice cream, Li Xiao noted expressionlessly, “The Zheng family and the Meng family resemble a resentful couple; friction between them is plentiful.”

“So you’re executing a strategy of estrangement?” Song Jin licked off the residual ice cream from the spoon. “Will they swallow the bait this easily?”

Li Xiao’s gaze involuntarily fell upon the tip of his tongue, speaking casually, “If worst comes to worst, we execute it a few more times. There will always be a moment they swallow the bait.”

Song Jin draped an arm over Li Xiao’s shoulder, laughing with a trace of mischief, “When will you apply this level of scheming toward pursuing me? If you exerted even a shred of effort, you would have caught me a long time ago.”

Li Xiao looked at him, speaking unhurriedly, “Even if I applied it, you wouldn’t comprehend it.”

Song Jin: “…Do you take me for a fool?”

Li Xiao maintained a wooden face. “I’ll pursue you when I secure some free time.”

Song Jin was highly dissatisfied. “Am I a rotten cabbage leaf? Dropped onto the ground with no one willing to pick it up?”

Watching the surveillance footage fed back by 09, Li Xiao remarked casually, “You are a priceless antique—aloof, noble, and beyond reach.”

Song Jin gave a soft hum, unable to suppress the upward curve of his lips.

Li Xiao added, “But the moment someone counters the price, you sell.”

Song Jin: “…”

Turning Li Xiao’s face to confront his own, Song Jin offered a thoroughly chilling smile, “Then you better hurry up and counter it.”

Li Xiao was amused by the interaction. “Buying an antique isn’t like buying vegetables; shouldn’t one be more prudent?”

Deeply captivated by the smiling face before him, Song Jin reluctantly continued eating his ice cream while monitoring the surveillance footage.

Sooner or later, I will make this kid completely head over heels for me, crying and begging for a kiss every single day.

“Achoo—” Li Xiao sneezed. “What are you plotting in your mind again?”

Song Jin: “…”

The events that transpired within the testing hall lobby spread across the internal network rapidly, with public opinion severely polarized.

Zheng Lin had publicly questioned the validity of Li Xiao and Song Jin’s grades, only to be taught a brutal lesson, and had even instructed his lackey to release pheromones to manufacture chaos. Many students felt his behavior was far too arrogant.

“Is he seeking his own demise? Li Xiao is the Second Prince, after all.”

“An regular person wouldn’t be able to tolerate it either. If I scored a perfect score and got questioned, I’d beat him to death!”

“Floating so high over these years that they’ve forgotten who they are, actually daring to bully their way onto royalty’s head.”

“Securing a perfect score is indeed highly exaggerated, but public humiliation truly crossed the line. Waiting for an investigation outcome.”

“An exceptional beating! It’s high time these so-called nobles were taught a lesson!”

Meanwhile, another faction of users was frantically mocking Li Xiao, with indirect accusations leveled against the royal house as well.

In the small living room, Qian Can sat cross-legged on the carpet eating a banana. Seeing a massive wave of anti-fans slandering them on the internal network, he cursed a few phrases before looking toward Jiang Hao, “Little Jiang, your progress this time is massive! How did you achieve it?”

Jiang Hao replied, “Doing homework.”

Recalling Jiang Hao’s previous 270-point remark, Qin Le inquired curiously, “What kind of homework? Just the set assigned by the instructors?”

“And the ones Boss provided me.” Jiang Hao opened his homework system, projecting the data materials Li Xiao had given him into mid-air.

The moment Qian Can and Qin Le laid eyes on it, their eyes widened in shock.

He had already completely finished studying the compulsory courses for the first semester of the second year at the military academy! There was also a massive volume of specialized military books alongside corresponding real-combat analysis questions, some of which even they would find difficult to answer.

Qian Can’t mouth felt dry. “How long did it take you to complete this homework?”

Jiang Hao: “Two months.”

Qian Can: “…”

Good heavens, finishing over a year’s worth of material in two months—no wonder he was doing homework every single day!

Qian Can executed a direct screenshot and posted it to the internal network.

【For those questioning this phase exam score, try finishing this set of materials within two months before stating a high score is impossible. (PS: This is the study plan the Second Prince formulated for Jiang Hao.)】

Tagged with trending keywords, it swiftly attracted a massive ring of spectating students.

“Finishing this in two months—are you insane or am I?!”

“I assumed the military academy curriculum was already competitive enough! Let destruction come!”

“Zooming in to look closely, a lot of questions have massive corrections. Could they have been personally graded by the Second Prince? Crying from envy.”

“Weakly requesting this exam paper. Also, the Second Prince’s handwriting is so beautiful, boohoo!”

“May I inquire if His Highness is still accepting lackeys? (Hinting frantically.)”

On the Capital Planet, within the Meng Estate.

Meng Jian’s report had been hurled onto the floor by Li Ji. Upon returning from the palace, his fury erupted completely.

Entering the study and seeing a floor littered with shattered fragments, Meng Tuo asked in bewilderment, “Father, what occurred?”

“The report was rejected by Li Ji; he is absolutely determined not to grant me departmental oversight!” Meng Jian slammed his hand heavily onto the desk, a murderous intent surging within the depths of his eyes. “Without delivering a lesson, he won’t behave himself obediently!”

Meng Tuo pressed, “What do you intend to execute?”

Meng Jian countered, “What is the situation within the military academy?”

Meng Tuo relayed everything reported by his subordinates: “Regular assassination methods find it difficult to resolve Li Xiao; arranging an accidental death won’t be easy to manage.”

“A difficult brat indeed.” Meng Jian picked up his walnuts to roll them within his hand.

Meng Tuo noted, “Word states he took first place in the phase examination today. His current image within the military academy is excellent, and his national popularity metrics are high, which has even elevated the online support ratings for the royal house.”

Meng Jian murmured, “I recall a practicum mission is scheduled after the phase examinations?”

Meng Tuo nodded. “This cycle is arranged to be led by the 231st Legion, heading toward a Tier 3 Danger Zone to execute reclamation.”

Meng Jian’s face turned grim. “Alter the expedition plan.”

At the First Military Academy, Medical Center No. 1.

Zheng Lin double-locked the bathroom door and initiated a video call to his father, crying as he complained, “Hurry up and bring that idiot Meng Tao back! Why did you make me take the lead?! Look at how they beat me, boohoo… Either swap someone else in, or bring Meng Tao back, because I’m absolutely done!”

On the other side of the screen, Zheng Kangan entered the frame hurriedly. Seeing his bruised grandson, his fury soared. “Merely a few exchange students—I’ll have them deliver a public apology this coming Monday and execute immediate repatriation!”

Zheng Lin wiped his tears, “Li Xiao even told me not to take myself too seriously since my surname isn’t Meng. It’s simply too bullying!”

The expressions of Zheng Kangan and his son, Zheng Fan, shifted drastically.

Those words directly threw the dignity of their Zheng family onto the floor to be stepped on.

After pacifying Zheng Lin’s emotions, the Zheng father and son felt deeply uncomfortable.

Just as Zheng Fan was about to speak, he saw his father, Zheng Kangan, walk toward the study with his hands behind his back. He decided to initiate a video call to apply pressure on the military academy’s Principal.

Within the study, Zheng Kangan silently brewed tea. His hand paused mid-pour, and without any warning, he smashed the teapot onto the floor, his face completely filled with humiliation.

The scene of Li Xiao’s initial return to the palace flashed before his eyes—back then, he and Meng Jian had run into Li Xiao, but the other party only conversed with Meng Jian, leaving him stranded on the path.

Even a prince with neither power nor influence didn’t place him within his eyes!

The Zheng family and the Meng family had started around the same period, possessing equivalent family power parameters.

Yet somewhere along the way, the Meng family had surged ahead of the Zheng family. Every commendation went to the Meng family, every ounce of praise from the citizens was directed at the Meng family, while the Zheng family transformed into a transparent second place, completely alienated from any benefits.

Even if the Meng family executed a successful coup d’état, the Zheng family would never surpass them. Rather, once the Meng family transformed into royalty, the Zheng family would be permanently suppressed underneath.

On what grounds?

Compared to the Meng family, the Zheng family lacked absolutely nothing!

His terminal vibrated. Zheng Kangan picked up, speaking in a thoroughly displeased tone, “What matter?”

The adjutant on the screen reported respectfully, “We just received intelligence that the Meng family intends to temporarily transfer the military academy students’ practicum mission to the Zufu Sector.”

Zheng Kangan narrowed his eyes slightly. “What practicum mission?”

The adjutant opened a file document.

It displayed that the first-year practicum mission was originally designated for the Tianjiang Sector, but the Meng family wished to temporarily alter it to the Zufu Sector.

Upon seeing the target planet for the expedition, Zheng Kangan understood Meng Jian’s intent in an instant, smashing another tea bowl in sheer rage. “An exceptionally loud calculation! Wishing to utilize my territory to stir up trouble for himself again—he reaps the benefits while I shoulder the blame!”

The adjutant hesitated slightly, “How should we reply?”

“Reject it!” Zheng Kangan barked severely. “The Zufu Sector temporarily lacks any practicum missions suitable for first-year military cadets. Let him find an alternative method himself!”

The adjutant: “Understood.”

The matter regarding the scores fermented over the weekend, and in the blink of an eye, Monday arrived.

The Zheng family applied pressure on the academy management, demanding severe punishment for Song Jin and Jiang Hao, who had initiated the physical altercation. The Principal threw the issue straight to Zhang Bin from the General Affairs Division.

Having experienced the agonizing ordeal of being slapped in the face at lightspeed last time, Zhang Bin truly did not dare to issue an announcement recklessly. Yet the delay was unsustainable, prompting him to shift the problem to Yan Qing.

Early Monday morning, Yan Qing submitted the investigation report to Zhang Bin.

“Song Jin and Jiang Hao indeed exhibited excessive behavior during the process, but given Li Xiao’s unique status parameters, there was sufficient justification and necessity for a counter-offensive. Personally, I believe it is best for the academy management not to intervene.”

Zhang Bin pressed, “Beating someone until they are hospitalized, and we can just disregard it?”

Yan Qing countered, “Zheng Lin slandered the royal house. If we truly press charges, he would be sent straight to the Security Bureau; a physical beating is considered exceptionally light.”

Zhang Bin lapsed into silence.

The fear was that every faction would begin pressing charges.

“Did you leak the questions or not?” Zhang Bin asked, his face darkening.

Yan Qing stated with a chilling face, “If you believe I leaked the questions, you can organize a re-examination for them. But factor in the consequences of infuriating the royal house clearly.”

Half an hour later, the Academic Affairs Office published an announcement, making the exam papers of the top one hundred students completely public for everyone to review and learn from.

Within the training facility, Li Xiao and the others were taking a mid-session break, sitting casually on the steps to drink water.

Hearing a group of surrounding students shouting in surprise, Qian Can was the first to open the announcement. “They actually made the papers public.”

Although one hundred papers were published, everyone understood the academy’s underlying intent.

Once Li Xiao and Song Jin’s perfect-score papers were placed side-by-side for comparison, the previous clamoring voices vanished entirely.

Aside from the straightforward multiple-choice and true-or-false questions, their analytical problem-solving methodologies were worlds apart, providing a second and third line of reasoning outside the official answer key, triggering an intense wave of discussion across the internal network.

Quite a few individuals noticed that Li Xiao’s handwriting matched the corrections on the previously published study materials perfectly, sending a collective shock through their systems.

Who would have thought Li Xiao would truly grade homework for his lackey?!

Is there still hope in this lifetime to become Li Xiao’s lackey?!

Seeing these comments, Song Jin looked toward Li Xiao, who was drinking water. “Starting today, I will submit homework, and you will grade it for me.”

“Pff—cough cough cough…” Li Xiao was caught off guard, choking on his water. “Submit what homework?”

Song Jin replied, “You compose the questions for me.”

Li Xiao: “…”

So he was referring to this.

“There’s no necessity to waste time.” Li Xiao tightened his bottle cap. “It’s not as though you don’t comprehend how to solve them.”

Song Jin knitted his brows. “Is this a question of whether I comprehend it or not?”

“…” Li Xiao sighed helplessly. “You and your partner have a fight and live separately. Your partner addresses you, stating: ‘It’s best if we live separately for a lifetime!’ What is the meaning behind these words? A, wishes to live separately forever. B, wishes to reconcile. C, wishes to divorce.”

Song Jin answered with absolute confidence, “A.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Zero progress.

The whistle to assemble blew. Li Xiao rose, reaching over to ruffle Song Jin’s fluffy hair. “Scoring zero on the entrance exam—I don’t accept stupid students of your caliber.”

Song Jin: “…”

As Qin Le and the other two walked down the steps, they heard a commotion behind them. Turning their heads, they saw the young couple engaged in another physical altercation over a disagreement.

Zhao De stole a glance, choosing to act completely oblivious.

A student raised a hand, “Instructor, do they not receive punishment for failing to line up?”

Zhao De countered, “Is this not already an execution of punishment?”

The students: “…”

Where did their once rigid and severe instructor depart to?

Zhao De summarized the issues that manifested during the practical combat evaluation first. Only after Li Xiao and Song Jin concluded their fight and returned to the ranks did he address everyone.

“The academy has prepared a practicum mission for the top fifty of the comprehensive board this cycle. However, factoring in the participation of exchange students alongside recent cosmic radiation fluctuations, various locations have entered an active phase for variant species. Higher management has altered the practicum plan.”

He glanced at the notification on his terminal before continuing, “This Wednesday afternoon at six o’clock, assemble at Assembly Hall 8. You will accompany the second and third-year students to the Suyang Sector S80 to participate in a frontline support mission. Exchange students may choose voluntarily whether to attend; notify me of your intent before Tuesday noon.”

The Suyang Sector was currently the territory of the Qi family. Li Xiao wondered if someone had secretly pulled strings behind the scenes.

“Going?” Li Xiao asked Song Jin.

Song Jin countered, “If you go, I go.”

Li Xiao harbored some hesitation.

Ferryman G2 hadn’t been located yet, and Yan Qing’s identity remained unverified. Stepping away to execute a mission on the frontline currently might delay matters, yet he wished to tour the Qi family’s territory as well.

During the night, Song Jin emerged from his shower. Still fixated on that zero-score entrance exam, he prepared to head next door to make Li Xiao give him a re-test.

07’s voice resonated beside his ear:

【Master, your pheromone levels are experiencing slight fluctuations.】

Perhaps because he was too relaxed while showering, failing to strictly control the release and retraction of his pheromones, Song Jin didn’t take it to heart. Holding a tub of ice cream, he scaled the wall and knocked on the neighboring door.

Shortly after, the French window opened before him. Li Xiao had just finished his shower as well, water still dripping from the tips of his hair.

Song Jin found it slightly difficult to avert his eyes.

“It’s cold outside, come in first.” As Li Xiao spoke, he stepped aside.

Song Jin snapped back to reality. “I’m here for a re-test.”

As they brushed past each other, Li Xiao caught a whiff of a crisp alcohol scent, carrying a dominant yet enticing spiciness. He asked casually, “Is tonight’s tub of ice cream alcohol-flavored?”

Song Jin lifted it to check, “Cherry Brandy flavor.”

Li Xiao: “No wonder.”

Song Jin leaned against the study desk. “Hurry up with the re-test, I can definitely secure a perfect score this time.”

Li Xiao noted, “You possess a zero-score face, cease your struggles.”

Song Jin narrowed his eyes, “Underestimating me?”

Li Xiao let out a soft laugh, “What happens if you score zero again?”

Song Jin proposed, “If I secure a perfect score, you sleep with me tonight. If I score zero, I sleep with you.”

Li Xiao: “…”