Chapter 5: "Not Getting Full Marks Means You're Not Human!"
Wang Ping stared wide-eyed at Jiangnan.
Holy crap!
This was an acrostic poem!
Or a rhyming chant!
I wanted ABCDEFG!
Nan Shen! I'm kneeling to you, please stop showing off!
The talent leaping off the paper was blinding my dog eyes!
Jiangnan looked completely confident.
He secretly gave Wang Ping a thumbs up!
[From Wang Ping: Resentment Value +1000!]
[From Wang Ping: ...]
...
Exam Room 2!
Wu Liang's massive, mountain-like frame sat in the middle of the classroom.
His face was twisted in anguish as he stared at the questions before him.
Sweat was pouring down like rain. Veins were bulging.
A glance at his answer sheet?
He'd only written his name.
At the same time...
A Wuling Hongguang minivan was parked outside the school.
Inside, things were absolute chaos.
Seven or eight burly men with bare chests, fierce faces, shoulder dragons and chest tigers were all huddled around a laptop.
On the screen was Wu Liang's exam paper.
The feed was transmitted in real-time through the glasses Wu Liang was wearing.
The red headband on his forehead was a high-frequency antenna.
Even the school's signal jammer couldn't stop it.
These big guys looked frantic, scribbling calculations on scrap paper.
Bald Big Guy: "Lao Wang, hurry up and calculate! Brother Wu is waiting!"
Chest Tiger Big Guy snapped, "What's there to rush?! This question is way too hard!"
"Aren't you a college graduate? Can't handle high school questions?"
"Gah! It's been years since I graduated! What the hell is tan? COS? My head's about to explode! Is this really a high school question?"
"Can you do it or not? An hour's gone! We'll have to hand in the paper soon!"
"Don't hold back, find some backup!"
"My son has a PhD, I'll call him!"
"Lao Liu! Your daughter teaches high school math, right? Call her! What are you waiting for?"
Passersby glanced through the car window.
Seven or eight big dudes sweating bullets, piling on top of each other—everyone's expression changed, and they quickly walked away.
Sighs followed.
What's wrong with this world?
In the classroom, Wu Liang clenched his steel-like teeth so hard they almost cracked.
There were only three minutes left until the bell.
Through his earpiece, he could hear curses and noise.
His head was about to explode.
He slammed his iron fist onto the desk.
BAM!
A sudden roar echoed through the silent exam hall.
The whole floor could hear it.
The classmates next to him jumped in fright, and the proctor nearly leaped out of his seat.
He sprayed his tea all over the student in front of him.
Student: ???
Mm...
West Lake Longjing tea!
At once, everyone turned to stare at Wu Liang.
He immediately realized his mistake.
If he blew it, he'd never get into the top three!
So he scratched his head, looking troubled. "Ugh... why can't I figure this out?"
The proctor wiped the podium, calm and collected. "Student! Keep quiet!"
Another proctor patted Wu Liang's shoulder in consolation. "Don't worry. If you don't do well this time, there's always next time."
Wu Liang's roar was so loud it reached the minivan outside.
"Brother Wu! Here it comes! Here it comes! Fill it in!"
In that moment, Wu Liang's eyes bulged. His muscles tightened like steel cables.
He grabbed his pen and wrote like a madman, his arm and wrist moving so fast they left afterimages.
He barely finished the paper before the bell rang.
Then he shot out of the teaching building like the wind, scaled the wall, and tore out of campus.
He yanked open the van door and dove inside.
The Wuling Hongguang shook violently.
Three minutes later, Wu Liang climbed out, completely relaxed.
Inside, seven or eight bruised and battered big guys were on their phones. "Hey, sweetie? Come quick! Save your dad!"
"Hey, son! Get over here! Dad's counting on you today!"
Jiangnan ran into Wu Liang after a trip to the restroom. Grinning, he asked, "How'd the morning exam go? Smooth?"
Wu Liang straightened up with a solemn face and patted his chest. "Don't worry, Nan Ge! Everything's under control!"
"Oh ho! Not bad! Haha!" Jiangnan was pretty pleased. Looked like their review had paid off.
Wu Liang: ...
How could it not go well?
Half the underworld in Jiangcheng was working on his exam for him.
As for the review results?
Wu Liang had confirmed one thing:
Nan Ge was right!
His brain really was filled with muscle.
...
The day's exams passed. After school, Wu Liang and Jiangnan walked home.
They were in great spirits.
Somehow, they'd managed to muddle through the exams.
Wu Liang was supremely confident.
The theory exams were over.
Next up was the spirit realm practical assessment.
"Nan Ge! Tomorrow afternoon we're heading to Changbai Mountain! What gear are you using? I'll get it for you!"
Jiangnan was taken aback. "What gear?"
Wu Liang remembered that Jiangnan had never been to a spirit realm, so he explained:
"The spirit beasts in the spirit realm are extremely dangerous—nothing like the outside world."
"Most spirit warriors pick a cold weapon for self-defense. It's convenient for killing beasts or protecting yourself."
"We're going for fifteen days! It's going to be rough. We'll need plenty of food, clothes, and supplies."
"We'll also need some survival gear. Have you got everything ready, Nan Ge? Just bring whatever. I'll carry your backpack—I've got the strength!"
Jiangnan rolled his eyes. "Carry my back? I am a walking backpack. You forgot what I do, didn't you? As for supplies, I really haven't prepared anything."
Wu Liang blinked.
Holy crap!
Nan Shen is a space-type user!
How could he forget that?
With an alternate dimension, the possibilities were endless.
"Let's go, Nan Ge! Head to my turf. Take whatever you need. I've got everything!"
With that, Wu Liang slung an arm around Jiangnan and changed course.
Jiangnan chuckled. "Perfect. I've got something for you too. You're gonna love it."
A group of schoolgirls walking home saw Jiangnan and Wu Liang with their arms around each other's shoulders. Their eyes sparkled.
"See? I told you!"
"Tsk tsk. Such a waste of a handsome guy like Jiangnan."
"What waste? Hmph! Watch me win him back!"
"Giggle~ Xiao Bei, you're going after Jiangnan?"
"If I don't act fast, someone else will take him. Where else am I going to find such a cool guy?"