Chapter 59

Tch! Ji Xun quickly adjusted his mindset, acting as if it hadn’t been intentional at all. He sneered, took a few steps toward home, then stopped—could it really not have been on purpose? Or was the apology itself just a deliberate act? If Fu Shuxing wanted to apologize, why not do it face to face? No matter what… at least Fu Shuxing seemed to feel some guilt, which might explain why he also chose to skip the exam. But wait, maybe it wasn’t voluntary. Perhaps this was a punishment from Uncle Gao or Uncle Fu—using evil to counter evil? As Ji Xun pondered, he walked into the bedroom: Fu Shuxing had the results from the last major test, and it was because of that outstanding performance that the military academy had extended an olive branch. In other words, even without this final exam’s results, he should still be able to get into the academy. That was so unfair! Didn’t the guides have such major tests as well? Back in his room, Ji Xun saw the giant egg writhing oddly on a book, seemingly trying to turn the page. But how could it read the words through the shell? Ji Xun went over and flipped the page for it. Then he sighed and sank into a chair, curling up. He should have been happy about the smooth resit, but one message from Fu Shuxing had left his mood hanging in limbo. The giant egg noticed his sigh, turned to “look,” then vanished—only to reappear in Ji Xun’s hand, rubbing up against him in a gesture of goodwill. Ji Xun looked down and pinched it gently. “It’s okay.” Zhao Zhanlei had just finished his exam and was hurrying home when he spotted Ji Xun squatting at the crossroad far ahead. Startled, he immediately ran over and grabbed him. “My god, what are you doing out here? It’s so cold at night, and you just got better from being ill!” Ji Xun said, “I want to ask you something.” “If you want to ask, come inside and wait.” Zhao Zhanlei wore only a thin shirt, no jacket. He briskly went to the door, fumbled for the key under the flowerbed, and unlocked it. “You know where the key is anyway.” The Zhao household was still without any adults. After entering, Ji Xun asked, “Stone, after the last major test, didn’t the military academy select three sentries from your class?” “Yeah.” Zhao Zhanlei said, “Xingge, me, and Fan Yunhai—we three didn’t go.” “If you didn’t go, does that qualification still count?” Zhao Zhanlei gave Ji Xun a curious look. “Does that even stay valid?” “I’m just asking,” Ji Xun said. “I heard Xingge didn’t take the exam today either and didn’t prepare for the makeup. Without final exam results, how could he get into the academy? I thought about it, and only that major test result counts.” Zhao Zhanlei said, “He didn’t take it today.” But then he asked Ji Xun, “Who told you you can’t get into the academy without final exam scores? At most, the final exam is just a foot in the door, a preliminary understanding for the academy. Everyone still has to take the official entrance screening, and that’s what really matters.” “If Sanctuary’s scores counted, how many would cheat? Then all the cheaters would get in!” That made sense… As Zhao Zhanlei spoke of the entrance assessment, Ji Xun recalled Uncle Gao mentioning it to his mother and asked, “Is the military academy’s entrance assessment very difficult?” “Isn’t that obvious!” Zhao Zhanlei filled a hot water bottle and pressed it into Ji Xun’s arms. Raising his eyebrows, he said, “Do you think getting into the academy is a joke? Real guns and real battles — that’s life or death! If the entrance assessment weren’t strict, it would be irresponsible to the lives of future soldiers.” Ji Xun held the hot water bottle, increasingly convinced that entering the military academy was no game. “By the way, what’s a makeup exam? Can you guys even have one?” “Of course.” Ji Xun said excitedly, “The power of privilege— you wouldn’t understand. For them, it’s just a matter of saying the word.” Zhao Zhanlei immediately understood. “Oh, that’s because Uncle Gao spoils you.” If it were him or anyone else, no way would they dare to say such things to that person. Ji Xun disagreed. Uncle Gao agreed only because he knew Ji Xun missed the exam due to Fu Shuxing’s ‘involvement’; it wasn’t about spoiling. Makeup exams were a remedy. “Then why didn’t Xingge take the makeup? Have you contacted him? Where is he?” “No contact.” Ji Xun said, “I learned from Uncle Gao that Xingge is already at the war zone and isn’t taking the exam or makeup.” “Tsk tsk.” Zhao Zhanlei shook his head after drinking water. “Look at him, so stubborn, not caring about small scores, relying purely on strength. When Xingge returns from training, we won’t even be on the same level. He’s transformed, transcended. If you ask me, he’s leveled up.” Ji Xun curled his lips. “You worship him that much?” “Who doesn’t?” Zhao Zhanlei said bluntly, “Even the instructors at Sanctuary think he’s strong! Don’t you think so?” Ji Xun was speechless. Zhao Zhanlei summed up, “We sentries always speak with strength, unlike you guides.” Ji Xun frowned, immediately retorting, “What’s wrong with us guides???” Zhao Zhanlei said, “You guides fall into categories: those with high spiritual power, the pretty ones, the charming ones, the cute spiritual entities…” Ji Xun saw Zhao Zhanlei was quite serious and asked, “Which category am I in?” “You?” Zhao Zhanlei quickly answered, “Our Xun Xun is definitely a super guide, the kind who speaks with strength!” Ji Xun conceded and then found fault. “I went to Xingge’s house, and as soon as I walked in, he handed me a drink. Here, you’ve been in for so long, and not even a drop of water, just a hot water bottle. Can you drink that?” “…I was just afraid you’d catch cold again, ancestor.” Zhao Zhanlei handed Ji Xun a glass of water. “You were almost frozen out there. If you got sick right after being discharged, Aunt Ji would hunt me down.” After drinking, Ji Xun patted the hot water bottle. “Your parents still haven’t come back. Why don’t you have dinner at my place tonight?” “No need,” Zhao Zhanlei said. “There’s an exam tomorrow; I’ll just eat quickly.” Ji Xun asked, “After the exam, it’s vacation. Any plans?” “What plans? Most likely I’ll be free labor for my dad, helping clean up battlefields.” Zhao Zhanlei complained bitterly, “Look, Xingge goes to the battlefield to kill enemies; I just clean up the corpses. That’s quite a difference.” Ji Xun saw him grumble but his eyes still shone brightly, clearly passionate about it. Suddenly, Ji Xun called out, “Stone.” “Hmm?” Zhao Zhanlei replied. Ji Xun asked seriously, “Why do you want to enter the military academy? Any specific reason?” “To defend the federation, to realize my life’s value!” Zhao Zhanlei answered without hesitation, his expression soaring. “Go into battle! Tear apart the Zerg! Drive away all the interstellar invaders—if they dare come, they won’t return! Let everyone know what it means to offend our federation! Let my legend spread across the galaxy, so that future invaders tremble at my name!” Such lofty ambition. Ji Xun doused it coldly: “You’re probably far from that goal. Xingge’s closer.” Zhao Zhanlei then asked, “What about you, Xun Xun?” Ji Xun said frankly, “I’ll be honest. I won’t be like someone who changes sides with the wind.” Zhao Zhanlei was speechless. As long as he didn’t respond, it was hard to tell he was being called out. Ji Xun continued, “Zhao Stone, Xingge has told me everything. Your behavior of changing faces and words depending on the person—I know it all.” Zhao Zhanlei was momentarily speechless. “Xingge really is something else.” Such fickleness! Ji Xun looked at Zhao Zhanlei. “Since I’m a very humane and kind guide, I’m giving you two choices: one, we break off our friendship. Two…” “Two two two!” Zhao Zhanlei shouted, interrupting, “I choose two!” Ji Xun raised an eyebrow. “So cooperative?” “Of course. What’s two?” “Not to mention yet, but you swear that you won’t tell a single soul—your parents, Xingge, no one alive—anything I’m about to say.” “What’s so secretive? I swear I won’t tell.” Ji Xun didn’t make Zhao Zhanlei swear some big oath; instead, he looked serious. “If I decide to go to the military academy, you’ll have to help me. Help me practice, help me pass the entrance assessment.” Zhao Zhanlei: “…” Ji Xun asked, “What’s wrong? Is that hard for you?” “It’s not about difficulty, Xun Xun. Are you serious?” “I said ‘if’ I decide.” Emphasizing the “if.” Zhao Zhanlei tried to dodge: “You haven’t decided yet, so why ask?” Ji Xun snapped, “None of your business. Just say yes or no!” Zhao Zhanlei clicked his tongue. “Xun Xun, going to the military academy isn’t a joke.” “I know. That’s why I’m considering it seriously.” Ji Xun said, “Because my parents, Uncle Gao, Xingge, and many others don’t support it and want to stop me.” Zhao Zhanlei spoke honestly, “They’re doing it for your own good. I don’t think it suits you either.” He added, “The military academy is brutal. It’s totally different from our Sanctuary. Here, you get along well with your classmates and friendships flourish. But at the academy, it’s not like that. You’re teammates but also enemies.” Ji Xun frowned. “I don’t understand.” “If you don’t even understand that, why do you want to go?” Ji Xun stayed silent. Zhao Zhanlei suddenly thought of an absurd possibility. “You’re not going just to get revenge on Xingge, are you?” His tone was incredulous. Ji Xun was provoked. “Why not?” “Of course not.” Zhao Zhanlei was ready to kneel before his little ancestor. “Xun Xun, that’s the military academy! The military academy! I’ll have Xingge come back and kowtow three times to apologize to you. We won’t go to the academy. How do you want to get revenge? You want Xingge to stand still and let you beat him?” “Tch, do you have that ability?” “Actually, I do.” Zhao Zhanlei was certain that if he could stop Ji Xun from going to the military academy, Xingge would kowtow to him all day without blinking. The military academy was a serious place, not somewhere to joke around.