"Sigh! Every time I come back, it’s like this. Uncle Beichen, you’re such an idiot. You’ve already been tricked out of twenty swords by me, and you still won’t admit defeat!" Lin Ming muttered as he walked down the street, reminiscing about what just happened.
In his memories, every mission return meant sparring with Beichen. Except for a few times like today when Lan stopped them, Beichen had never won. Though Lin Ming couldn’t beat him head-on now, the speed honed during missions was something that muscle-bound blacksmith couldn’t match.
"Better hurry back to the academy!"
Meanwhile, at the Blacksmith Shop, Beichen sneezed suddenly. "Ah—choo! Who’s cursing me?"
"What are you staring at? Get back to work! Hmph!" Beichen barked at the apprentice who’d turned around.
...
"Finally here." Lin Ming stood at the gate of Azure Spirit Academy, gazing at the familiar entrance.
"Sir, please show your identification," the gate guard stopped him as he approached.
"Hey! You must be new. Who at Azure Spirit Academy doesn’t know me?" Lin Ming protested.
"That’s correct—I am new. Show your ID, and let me inspect the sack on your back," the guard said sternly.
"Hey! I’m a student here! No checks needed. Can’t you tell?" Lin Ming’s white ahoge shot straight up as the guard still blocked him.
"Sir, your attire doesn’t look like a student’s. Show your Student Card, or I’ll expel you for troublemaking," the guard replied suspiciously.
"Uh... ahahaha!" Lin Ming glanced at his ragged clothes, fell silent. His confidence deflated; his ahoge drooped with it. Damn it!
"Awkward. Proof, right? Wait—I’ll find it." He fumbled through his pockets. "Not here... not here... ah! Got it." He pulled the Student Card from his chest pocket.
"Out of the way, front!" a voice barked from behind.
"Who—... damn, so blinding!" Lin Ming turned and shielded his eyes from a flash of golden light.
The newcomer sat in an open-top luxury carriage. Golden magic robes, fingers laden with colorful rings, a pricey necklace, long golden hair, and a handsome face—he was the epitome of a spoiled rich kid. The shout came from his attendant.
"Filthy beggar, move! Guard, here’s my young master’s Student Card." The attendant sneered at Lin Ming’s tattered clothes, stepped down, and handed a black rectangular card to the guard.
"Right away. Beep!" The guard scanned it. A mechanical voice announced: "Name: Modo Wells. Age: 16. Azure Spirit Academy, Magic Department, High School Year 1 student. New student, class not assigned."
'Hmm? That surname.' Lin Ming pondered slightly; it sounded familiar.
"Verified. Keep your card safe. Today’s the last day of new student enrollment tests—do your best!" The guard returned the card.
"Young master, here. Ace the aptitude test today!" The attendant handed it to Modo, who’d just stepped down.
"Hmph! A freshman test? No challenge. After this, I’ll live on campus. You may leave." Modo waved dismissively.
"Understood, young master." The attendant bowed and drove off.
"Hey! You ahead—surnamed Wells?" Lin Ming called out.
"Hah! A beggar cozying up to me? Scram." Modo eyed him up and down with disdain.
"Hey, pal, watch your mouth. Just asking—and take back ‘beggar,’ or..." A # popped on Lin Ming’s forehead. He forced a smile, but his ahoge stood rigid, betraying his fury.
"Or what? Hah! Wanna hit me? Get inside first, beggar!" Modo walked past the guard, sneering back.
"Modo, huh? Don’t run. Your bro Lin’s giving you a buff," Lin Ming growled darkly, fists clenched. Knuckles cracked: crack, crack, crack.
Modo strode into the academy without a glance back.
"Damn it! Ignoring me? Coward! Don’t run—I’ll beat the crap out of you!" Lin Ming’s ahoge bristled as he lunged forward, but the guard blocked him.
"Sir, show your ID."
"Here, here! Hurry up!" Lin Ming thrust his card forward.
"Beep!" The scanner announced: "Name: Lin Ming. Age: 17. Azure Spirit Academy, Combat Department, High School Year 2 student. Special Class, Year 2."
"Huh! So you are... keep your card." The guard handed it back with a murmur.
"You just went ‘huh,’ didn’t you? Think I didn’t hear? Hmph! I’m chasing that kid now—not worth my time." Lin Ming snatched the card. Fury boiled—he’d been called beggar three times by Modo and his attendant. Polite questions met with insults? Not beating them up would betray his principles.
"If I catch you, I’ll make you regret it." His ahoge shot up as he charged into the academy.
"He actually heard that," the guard muttered, wiping sweat.
...
"Damn, he’s fast!" Lin Ming scanned the area inside, but the glittering golden figure was gone.
"As long as you’re in this academy, I’ll catch you!" Lin Ming roared at the sky.
"Who’s that? Clothes all ragged."
"Yeah! How’d he get in?"
"Look at that white ahoge—it’s bobbing! So funny!"
Students gathering for exams crowded around, whispering. A girl pointed teasingly at Lin Ming’s ahoge.
"What are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll charge you!" Lin Ming snapped.
The students jumped back.
"Huh! That familiar white ahoge!"
"Lin Ming! It’s you—pfft!"
"With that outfit, did you turn beggar? Hahaha!"
"Extra! Extra! Lin Ming from our Special Class finally snapped from poverty and became a beggar! LOL!"
A guy with yellow spiky hair at the back recognized the ahoge. He grinned and shouted loudly. Lin Ming’s face paled.
"Damn it! That voice... that hair. Definitely him." Lin Ming spotted the spiky yellow head, gritting his teeth.
"Damn! Crowd’s growing. Gotta bail—or I’ll lose face big time! I’ll deal with him later." Seeing more onlookers, Lin Ming decided fast.
"Holy crap! Someone’s riding a Pegasus to school over there!" He pointed wildly at the sky.
Heads snapped up—Pegasus! The most showy mount! Who wouldn’t look?
"Perfect!" While they gaped, Lin Ming grabbed his sack and dashed off at lightning speed.
