Chapter 9: Establishing Authority

“No comment,” Jiang Tang replied coldly with four words. She wasn’t ready to reveal her identity yet.

The Great Sage card was displaying its prowess in the航道, while in everyone’s eyes, she was still a failure. If exposed, it would surely arouse suspicion.

Old Sun responded with a nonchalant “Oh,” then shifted to talk about the upcoming quiz in three days. “The quiz in three days is a maritime simulation. Do you have any cards with good compatibility?”

Jiang Tang was slightly surprised and asked directly, “You’re so concerned about me?”

Old Sun was the kind of person who, rather than being lazy, was outright negligent. As the homeroom teacher, he didn’t teach classes or manage students, basically adopting a laissez-faire approach.

Moreover, advance hints were privileges reserved for top students.

Could Old Sun really be so kind-hearted?

Old Sun showed an exasperated expression and lit a cigarette. “Can’t I just fulfill my duties as a homeroom teacher?”

Jiang Tang subtly stepped back a little. “Then could you reveal a bit more? Like the nature of the simulation, the cost-effective异种, and the simulation boss?”

Examination simulations at various academies were usually based on real异种 invasion incidents, designed to create an immersive experience.

Final exams, however, involved actual combat against异种, with senior students even sent to the military for training, which caused high annual casualty rates.

Old Sun’s mouth twitched as he stubbed out the cigarette. “You’re treating me like a wish-granting machine?”

Jiang Tang looked innocent. “If that were the case, I would have wished for a victory without fighting long ago.”

Old Sun clicked his tongue. “That’s all I can reveal about the exam content. But on the examinee side, there’s much more you can do. I’ll send you a document shortly. You have three days to memorize it inside and out, understood?”

He swiped his finger across the neural interface, and Jiang Tang’s device notified her of a new message.

Opening the document, the first entry was Sheng Huai’an spanning twenty pages, detailing every skill used down to the exact minute and second in each battle, the effects produced, and analysis of the skills.

Without a doubt, this was exactly what Jiang Tang needed.

Her goal wasn’t merely to pass safely.

A genius’s debut required a complete and utter domination.

Jiang Tang put away her casual attitude and sincerely thanked Old Sun.

“It’s a small matter. You must take first place in the quiz,” Old Sun said gravely.

Probing, Jiang Tang smiled and asked, “Is there a prize for first place?”

Old Sun carefully put the unfinished cigarette back into his crumpled pack. “No, I’ve bet my life savings on you and even borrowed three million.”

Jiang Tang fell silent. Old Sun added, “If you don’t take first, I’ll jump off the rooftop.”

…

Walking into the classroom, Old Sun ignored the noisy room, left a message, “This period is self-study,” and then retreated to the office to slack off.

Jiang Tang’s seat was in the farthest corner of the back row, with enough space between her and the desks in front and beside her to fit three more desks.

Trash piled up like a small mountain on the desks and chairs. Milk left unfinished dripped down, emitting an indescribable stench.

Without using any special ability, she immediately spotted a blond kid flashing a mischievous grin with a prominent front tooth.

Jiang Tang sighed and gently tapped the blonde girl sitting in front of her. “Can I borrow your eyebrow razor?”

The girl, golden-haired and blue-eyed, with full, vividly painted lips, was applying eyeliner in the mirror. Startled by the tap, her hand trembled, flinging eyeliner across the room. Her face instantly darkened as she glared upward and cursed, “You—”

Realizing it was Jiang Tang, she glanced knowingly at the group of boys nearby and impatiently tossed the razor to Jiang Tang. “Eight thousand star coins. Transfer it to me.”

Jiang Tang looked at the razor in her hand. “Secondhand, and you want me to pay full price?”

“Take it or leave it.” The girl focused on wiping off the stray eyeliner.

Fair enough; the wool came from the sheep.

Jiang Tang grasped the razor and walked toward the group of boys.

The blond was tall and strong, but Jiang Tang’s sharp eyes saw right through him—he was all show.

The blond smiled and said, “After all these semesters, you’re finally willing to back down? You should just be my girlfriend; I’ll protect you. Sheng Huai’an? What’s he? Just some spoiled rich kid.”

He even reached out his hand to Jiang Tang.

She smiled silently, suddenly grabbed his hand, and twisted it fiercely in a full circle.

The blond’s pig-like scream instantly drowned out the classroom noise.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Jiang Tang.

Her grip was powerful and ruthless; the blond couldn’t break free and knelt on the floor, screaming like a madman, cold sweat soaking his forehead. Yet his mouth remained foul. “Damn, you bitch! You’re asking to die! What are you waiting for? Come on!”

His companions hesitated, unwilling to step forward.

Jiang Tang’s ferocity in the ring was well known, even featured in exciting campus video clips. Only the tardy blond was oblivious.

Jiang Tang pressed the eyebrow razor deep into the blond’s arm, deliberately slicing a cut. The pain made him wail louder.

“What’s with the crying? It’s a reward,” she said softly, contrasting her violent action, “for being such a good trash thrower.”

Dealing with scum like this was better done with violence than wasted words.

Hatred flickered in the blond’s eyes. Just as he tried to activate a card quietly, Jiang Tang pressed the bloodied razor against his throat, freezing him with fear.

“Let me see... where should I cut next time?” Jiang Tang said, feigning trouble, “If I cut here, I won’t hear your screams anymore.”

The blond shook like a sieve, convinced she might actually slit his throat.

“K-Killing is illegal…”

“No worries, my family’s got some spoiled rich kids too,” Jiang Tang smiled.

The metallic scent spread through the classroom.

“What’s going on? No fighting allowed, there’s a surveillance camera!” Old Sun’s voice rang out.

Leaning against the doorframe, cigarette bobbing as he spoke, he said, “Jiang Tang, behave yourself. If you want to fight, take it to the bathroom.”

Jiang Tang released the blond reluctantly. “The men’s or women’s bathroom?”

The blond scrambled behind Old Sun, looking smug. “Right, the cameras! I’m turning the footage over to the student affairs office to get you expelled!”

“Hey, I forgot—the cameras aren’t on!” Old Sun pretended to tap his head. “Now turning them on!”

Someone in the class gasped, “Jiang Tang’s trending on the campus network!”

“Wow, she beat Gu Xue?”

The blond’s face went pale again, eyes filled with fear. Gu Xue could crush him with one finger, so Jiang Tang...

Being in Class F, you had to be realistic.

He just couldn’t understand how the once timid and useless Jiang Tang suddenly managed to defeat Gu Xue.

Jiang Tang raised her hand high. “Teacher, I want to change seats.”

“Go ahead, as long as someone’s willing to switch,” Old Sun said indifferently.

Jiang Tang smiled at the blond. “Classmate, you’re willing to switch with me, right?”

The blond shuddered, gave up trying to understand, and nodded eagerly. “I-I’ll clean up for you...”

Jiang Tang leaned leisurely against the desk. “Also, transfer me ten thousand star coins.”

The blonde girl fixing her lips with a cotton swab gave her a strange look and muttered, “I should’ve asked for eighteen thousand…”

Old Sun ignored their quarrels and climbed onto the podium. “We still have ten minutes before class ends. Let me talk about the quiz in three days...”