Chapter Seventy-Nine: Collecting Debts

"Haha, at last, some fresh blood has joined the ranks!"

Shangguan Mulong walked over with a cheerful grin and introduced himself: "I will be your new mentor from now on—your only mentor—Shangguan Mulong!"

Unfortunately, Nangong Yuchen and Nangong Kexin were not listening at all. Their eyes were locked onto Lu Shijie, who stood among the figures behind the mentor, and Mu Ningxue, who kept her head bowed.

"Heh..." Sensing their murderous gazes, Lu Shijie let out a mocking snort, his narrow eyes filled with amusement and disdain.

This only fueled the fire in Nangong Yuchen’s heart. Had his reason not constantly warned him to stay calm, he likely would have lost control and charged forward, even though he knew he was no match for Lu Shijie yet.

It was a classic case of enemies meeting with intense resentment.

Shangguan Mulong had heard about this situation from Yang Long two days prior and was well-prepared. His expression darkened as he stepped into the middle, blocking their lines of sight. "You four are new, so listen closely to the first rule for elite students! Any private combat within any corner of Star Academy will result in immediate expulsion for everyone involved! And furthermore..." He paused for dramatic effect before continuing: "Your sergeant-level military rank will be revoked. For the next three years, regardless of your strength or merits, your rank will be reduced to corporal—a mere soldier."

The warning hung in the air, causing everyone to tense up. The veteran elite students behind him felt the penalty was excessively harsh, as there had never been a rule against private combat before.

However, one person clearly did not buy it. Completely disregarding Shangguan Mulong’s authority, she charged forward from the back.

"Nangong Yuchen, it’s time you paid the debt you owe sister Lingling!"

As the words fell, Nangong Yuchen saw a small fist enlarging in his vision, swinging straight toward his head.

"Shangguan Lingling!" Nangong Yuchen’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected this little girl to be so vindictive; so much time had passed, yet she hadn't forgotten.

*Bang!* Nangong Yuchen raised his palm, caught the incoming fist, and said coldly: "Shangguan Lingling, I am your savior, after all, aren't I?"

"Hmph, sister Lingling saved you at the coffee shop last time too, so that makes us even. But I remember clearly that you touched my chest, hit my head while I was weak, and tried to throw me off the sixth floor!" Shangguan Lingling’s words were truly shocking. The other elite students and Shangguan Mulong were frozen in place, their jaws dropping as if they had just heard world-shattering news.

Who in Xia City would dare provoke this little demoness? And he touched her chest? And tried to throw her off the sixth floor? They all looked at Nangong Yuchen with sudden admiration, as if to say, "Brother, you’re a legend!"

Realizing she had let something slip, Shangguan Lingling grew flustered and struck out with her other hand. Though she was a First-Tier, her strength was limited, and Nangong Yuchen firmly caught that hand as well.

"Hmph, let me go, Nangong Yuchen!" Seeing she couldn't break free, her face flushed with rage, and she raised a small foot to kick him in the groin.

A cold sweat broke out on Nangong Yuchen’s grim face. He quickly clamped his legs together to trap her foot, relieved that his reflexes were sharp enough; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Now that both her hands and her leg were pinned, she was completely immobilized. She could only scream, "Nangong Yuchen, let go of sister Lingling, or I’ll blast you to pieces with a cannon!"

Hearing the threat, Nangong Yuchen had no intention of letting go. If this little demoness pulled out her mecha, would he even have a chance of survival?

The dozen people present watched the ambiguous pose with great interest, unable to stop themselves from snickering.

Shangguan Lingling was beyond furious. She had always been the one bullying others, but ever since she met Nangong Yuchen, nothing had gone right. She hated him to the core. Just as she was wondering how to escape, she caught sight of Nangong Kexin nearby.

A lightbulb went off in her head. She looked at Nangong Kexin with a wronged expression and pleaded, "Sister Kexin, look, Nangong Yuchen is bullying me..."

Nangong Kexin had been in a foul mood, her enemies right before her eyes yet lacking the strength to take revenge. Hearing the plea, she felt even more irritated. Her parents' killer was right there, and Nangong Yuchen had the gall to flirt with a girl? She said coldly, "Nangong Yuchen, let her go!"

Nangong Yuchen didn't understand why his sister was suddenly so angry. In his momentary confusion, Shangguan Lingling seized the chance and broke free.

"Hmph, die, Nangong Yuchen!" As she spoke, black crystal shards rapidly coiled, condensed, and took shape in her hands. An eighty-centimeter-long sniper rifle appeared in her arms.

*Bang!* Aim, fire—Shangguan Lingling’s movements were fluid and practiced. A yellow energy bullet whistled through the air, streaking toward Nangong Yuchen.

"Wait... that’s a real mecha!" Nangong Yuchen had sensed it the moment she summoned it, and seeing her actually fire, he dove to the side.

"Hmph, die! Die! Die!" Shangguan Lingling fired three shots in succession, forcing Nangong Yuchen to jump and dodge frantically. Strangely, whenever the bullets missed and struck the hall's decorations, they were simply absorbed, vanishing into thin air.

"Shangguan Lingling, stop it! Someone could actually die!"

"Not a chance!" Shangguan Lingling ignored him, continuing to aim and fire. Though she was mischievous, she knew the limits; she aimed only at his limbs and deliberately slowed her shots. After all, she only wanted to punish him and regain her pride. Consequently, despite his frantic dodging, Nangong Yuchen remained unscathed.

Now it was Nangong Kexin’s turn to be nervous. She hadn't expected to inadvertently cause Nangong Yuchen harm. Seeing him narrowly dodge each bullet, she turned to the mentor, Shangguan Mulong, in anxiety.

"Men... Mentor!"

When Shangguan Mulong heard someone call him, he prepared to slip away as if he hadn't just given the rule himself.

"Shangguan Mulong, are you going to stop this private combat or not!" Nangong Yuchen was being driven mad. Seeing the mentor about to escape, he yelled after him.

Called out by name, Shangguan Mulong realized he couldn't get away. He coughed a few times, pulled out a square controller, and pressed a button.

*Hiss!*

Suddenly, the mecha in Shangguan Lingling’s hands began to disappear, twisting, breaking apart, and dissolving back into crystal shards that returned to the space-time ring on her finger.

"Shangguan Mulong, turn off the energy suppression!" Shangguan Lingling was in the middle of her revenge and was far from pleased.

"Enough, it’s time to go to the classroom!" Shangguan Mulong’s demeanor shifted from unreliable to stern. "Gao Xingyu, since you’ve been assigned to Shangguan Lingling’s squad, follow her from now on. As for Nangong Yuchen, you three form a squad, so you will act as the temporary leader. Keep your team in line!"

With those orders, he turned and walked toward the corridor inside the hall. "Follow me, all of you. You four are about to have your first real experience of the elite curriculum."

As he walked away, the other elite students followed. Shangguan Lingling, however, pouted. Before leaving, she glared at Nangong Yuchen and threatened, "Hmph, I’ll settle the score with you next time!"

Nangong Yuchen walked at the back with a grim face. In truth, he didn't care much about Shangguan Lingling’s threat; his cold gaze was fixed entirely on the back of Lu Shijie ahead.