Chapter Twenty-Six: Trouble Returns

Nangong Yuchen spent the entire weekend at home with Nangong Kexin, accompanying her in combat training. To call it a “battle” was generous—he had absolutely no chance to fight back and could only endure her onslaught. The only comfort was that, due to the upcoming elite student advancement exam, Kexin hadn’t kicked him out for the time being.

Early in the morning, Nangong Yuchen made breakfast and hurried to school. When he arrived, he found a throng of students crowded around the bulletin board. Curious, he went over to see what the commotion was about.

“Next Friday, the Virtual Island will finally open!”

“I wish I could go inside the island!”

“Who doesn’t? Even if you’re eliminated, at least you get to witness the strength of a first-tier mecha warrior!”

Listening to the excited chatter, Nangong Yuchen squeezed through the crowd and stared at the seventy-two golden names glittering at the top of the announcement board, momentarily dazed.

These were the slots for students from all three grades recommended to participate in the elite student assessment!

From the top row of twenty-four third-year students, down to the twenty-four first-years at the bottom, his name was among them. Beside each name was a photograph and basic class information, but the types and scores of their physical abilities were not revealed.

Just then, a rather plain-looking girl pointed at Nangong Yuchen in surprise and cried, “Nangong Yuchen!”

At her call, all the students around suddenly turned to look, eyes filled with admiration and excitement. “The infamous Triple Cultivation Rascal!”

“Wow, Nangong Yuchen, could you sign something for us?”

“A signature from a future first-tier mecha warrior will be worth a fortune!”

“Nangong Yuchen, do you have a girlfriend?”

Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, Nangong Yuchen panicked. He’d never received such attention before, and with his face burning, he fled in embarrassment.

A little more than a month ago, he had been called a useless disaster. The drastic change left him feeling as if he were in a dream.

The bell rang, snapping him back to reality. He hurried to his classroom, quickening his steps.

The first period was still Professor Mo Liwei’s class. Returning to his seat, he greeted Le Han and propped his head in his hands, enduring the long lesson.

…

At noon, Nangong Yuchen and Le Han ate together in the cafeteria as usual.

But not long after, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Pausing mid-bite, they looked up.

“Big brother, you have no idea how hateful he is! Not only did he hurt us, but he even snatched Lili away from me! You must help me get even this time!”

A tall, thin boy was dragging along another with short black hair, complaining loudly as they entered the cafeteria.

They quickly reached the center of the hall. The boy with short black hair shouted in a booming voice, “Who is Nangong Yuchen? Get out here!”

The cafeteria instantly fell silent. As the students recognized the newcomers, whispers of shock began to ripple through the crowd.

“What’s Tuoba Lin doing in the first-year section?”

“Didn’t you hear? He’s looking for Nangong Yuchen!”

“The Rascal? You mean that triple cultivation maniac from Class 12?”

“That’s right! He beat up Tuoba Feng here a while ago, and now trouble’s come knocking!”

Nangong Yuchen frowned. He had never met this boy before, but seeing the familiar face of Tuoba Feng beside him, he immediately understood.

“Nangong Yuchen, that’s Tuoba Lin from the third year. I heard he’s on the verge of breaking through to first-tier. Maybe we should—”

Before Le Han could finish, Nangong Yuchen raised a hand, cutting him off. He knew his friend was worried, but he had never been afraid of trouble, especially now.

“I’m right here.”

His calm voice drew all eyes in the cafeteria.

“That’s him, big brother! He’s Nangong Yuchen!” Tuoba Feng leaned over to hiss venomously into Tuoba Lin’s ear.

“Oh?” Tuoba Lin nodded and strode straight to Nangong Yuchen’s table. Coldly, he demanded, “I called you, and you’re still sitting here?”

Unfazed by the hostile glare, Nangong Yuchen merely glanced at him and replied, “If a dog starts barking, am I supposed to run over to it?”

He casually picked up another bite of food.

The students around them burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs in amusement. Who would have thought Nangong Yuchen would insult Tuoba Lin so brazenly before everyone?

“Are you looking for death?”

Furious, Tuoba Lin strode forward, flipped the table with one swipe, and swung a fist at Nangong Yuchen’s head.

Who in the third year dared disrespect him? He hadn’t expected a mere first-year to be so arrogant, even mocking him to his face. Tuoba Lin was determined to beat the boy half to death.

Feeling the force of the punch, Nangong Yuchen raised his right hand, catching it firmly. He turned to Le Han and said, “Step aside.”

“Hmph, no wonder you’re cocky—you’ve got some strength!” Tuoba Lin grabbed a plate with his left hand and smashed it toward Nangong Yuchen’s head, clearly intending to draw blood.

Sensing the force behind the attack, Nangong Yuchen didn’t dare let his guard down. He reacted instantly, dodging backward as the plate shattered against the wall.

“Big brother, you have to teach him a lesson!” Tuoba Feng cheered from behind, delighted to see the fight begin. He trusted Tuoba Lin’s strength completely and was already imagining how he’d show off to Zhang Lili when she arrived.

He’d complained about Nangong Yuchen weeks ago, but since Tuoba Lin was busy with the elite student nominations, he had postponed dealing with it until now.

With a bang, tables and chairs were overturned as students scrambled out of the way, leaving a wide space for the fight. Excitement buzzed as the crowd watched the battle unfold.

“Nangong Yuchen’s in trouble—he’s up against Tuoba Lin, who’s about to break through to first-tier mecha warrior!”

“True, his scores are good, but there’s still a gap in strength.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. The Rascal has three disciplines—how could he lose to Tuoba Lin?”

“Look carefully, Nangong Yuchen is already taking the initiative!”

Some students doubted him, others cheered him on. It was a far cry from a month ago, when everyone had written him off. Whether he realized it or not, Nangong Yuchen had already become a representative of the first-year students.

With each exchange, Tuoba Lin grew more shocked. He hadn’t expected a boy two years his junior to hold his own, and as the fight wore on, he found himself shifting from attack to defense.

Nangong Yuchen raised his left arm, blocking a fierce punch, then used his speed to slip behind Tuoba Lin and chop at the back of his head.

Tuoba Lin’s strength exceeded Nangong Yuchen’s, but his reflexes and speed were inferior. Surprised by the sudden attack from behind, he twisted his body desperately to avoid it.

Missing his mark, Nangong Yuchen didn’t relent. He bent his right arm and aimed his elbow at Tuoba Lin’s neck.

But Tuoba Lin was no novice. Just before the elbow struck, he spun around, grabbed Nangong Yuchen with both hands, and with a surge of strength, attempted an over-the-shoulder throw.

At the crucial moment, Nangong Yuchen clamped his legs around Tuoba Lin’s head, and before he could be slammed to the ground, he managed to fling his opponent away.

“A draw?” The onlookers gasped as both boys landed hard on their backs, staring up at the ceiling.

A first-year matching a third-year in combat—almost unthinkable. Yet for someone as balanced as Nangong Yuchen, perhaps it was not so surprising.

Tuoba Feng, still smug, was stunned into silence. Before he could react, Nangong Yuchen and Tuoba Lin sprang to their feet and clashed again, this time going all out, the fight fiercer than before.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded at the cafeteria door, accompanied by an anxious female voice.

“Tuoba Feng, stop this at once!”