Card Disciple

Ever since he saw the Magic Card advertis.e.m.e.nt of Shuanghuan Card Shop, Chen Mu lost all interest in all the other Magic Card advertis.e.m.e.nts. He had some unresolved questions though; there were some storefronts that would not lose out to that store he just pa.s.sed in scale, but why did their Magic Card advertis.e.m.e.nts differ so much?

However, Chen Mu also gained a lot this time. At the very least, he managed to see and experience genuine Magic Card advertis.e.m.e.nts. In his eyes, those Magic Card Billboards with the beautiful women on them couldn’t be included among Magic Card advertis.e.m.e.nts at all.

His knowledge had expanded; however, reality was cruel.

The current Chen Mu was yet unable to produce anything on the level of that amazing Magic Card Billboard. However, he still intended to make a magic card billboard for Uncle Hua, though naturally he wouldn’t make the type depicting beautiful women.

Having done a lap of the avenue, the main design of the billboard for Uncle Hua was already more or less complete. The only thing left now was to make it. It would need approximately three days to finish.

“Tingyi.” A booming voice came from behind Zuo Tingyi. As he stopped in his footsteps and turned around to look, a tall boy came quickly approaching. It was Zuo Tingyi’s good friend, Hong Tao1.

“Haha, I finally caught you!” With one big stride, Hong Tao suddenly hooked his arm around Zuo Tingyi’s neck.

The skinny Zuo Tingyi immediately stumbled, having been pulled forward.

“Be gentler, be mindful of our image!” Zuo Tingyi furrowed his brows in displeasure and spoke in a low voice.

Hong Tao unconcernedly said, “That’s enough, what image? I say, you’re a sham. In one word, fake!”

Hong Tao was one metre eighty with a school uniform that clung to his fit figure. Adding this to his dashing optimism and sunny smile, he was very popular at school. Furthermore, his outspoken and chivalrous personality made him one of the school’s most influential students.

In comparison, Zuo Tingyi’s figure seemed too thin. However, his tailored school uniform made him appear poised and with the refined temperament that only Card Creators possessed, his popularity among the female students was even higher than Hong Tao’s.

“Dong Wei Inst.i.tute’s school rules and regulations, Number ninety-one: Students should watch their image while in public.”

“Dong Wei Inst.i.tute’s dress policy, Number sixteen: On school days, students must enter the school in uniform. Their outfit should be neat and tidy, especially their collars, with the clasp secured properly…”

Zuo Tingyi straightened his body and first smoothed out his uniform before turning expressionless.

Pausing after every word, he turned his gaze towards Hong Tao’s open uniform collar.

“Okay, okay, I surrender!” Hong Tao promptly begged for mercy. After Zuo Tingyi entered the school’s disciplinary committee, he became the first student in school history able to remember all seven hundred and twenty-two school rules and regulations by heart, no matter their magnitude. He wasn’t actually afraid of Zuo Tingyi dragging him to the disciplinary committee, but rather of his nagging.

“Hey, look, isn’t that Xin Yi?” Hong Tao was quick-witted, immediately changing the subject.

Not far from them was a girl wearing a pink hair clip. She held a popsicle with one hand and a colourful gossip magazine in the other. Following behind her were two dogs, one large and one small.

Zuo Tingyi resumed a natural expression and carried on forward. Hong Tao hurried to catch up, and the two walked alongside one another. Zuo Tingyi nodded with a grunt, “You interested in her?”

“Forget it.” Hong Tao shook his head at once, “I don’t dare. Do you know who her brother is? It’s the head of Dong Shang Citadel’s garrison. Hehe, last time Aragon tried to hit on her, and as a result, he was directly taken to the garrison and stayed there for a whole five hours. Apparently he didn’t even look human when he came out!” Hong Tao clicked his tongue.

“Humph, serves him right.” Zuo Tingyi snorted in disdain. He looked down on hedonistic guys like Aragon a lot. Zuo Tingyi was from a prestigious household and although Aragon’s father was quite wealthy, they were no different to nouveau riche in the eyes of an aristocratic family like Zuo Tingyi’s. It was just that that guy was also shrewd and never committed anything under Zuo Tingyi’s watch.

“I heard that Star Academy have people coming over to our school for a short time?” Hong Tao inquired.

Zuo Tingyi glanced at him in surprise and commented, “Your information network is quite efficient.” Zuo Tingyi was favoured by the teachers and would know most of the school’s important events one step ahead. Moreover, he was part of the school’s disciplinary committee and was involved in the school’s affairs; information would reach him a lot quicker than regular students.

“Hehe, of course,” Hong Tao boasted, following which he spoke with a face full of resentment, “You’re too thoughtless, such big news and you didn’t even tell me about it.”

Zuo Tingyi explained, “I haven’t known about it for very long either. The school wants us to focus on school discipline, so as to avoid losing face in front of outsiders.”

“So when are they coming? What are they coming to us for?”

“In about one month, and even I’m not too sure what they’re coming for, they just said something about an exchange and such.”

“Tell me, just what level are the Star Academy’s students at? It really makes one look forward to it!” A burning radiance flashed in Hong Tao’s eyes. He suddenly tilted his head and asked, “Tingyi, do you want to go to Star Academy?”

Zuo Tingyi’s footsteps stopped. He c.o.c.ked his head and pondered for a moment before shaking his head, “I don’t know either. Although Star Academy has been in decline these few years, it is one of the Big 6 schools after all; its foundations isn’t something ordinary schools can compare to. What’s more, their trip this time might not be related to student recruitment.”

“Is that so? In my opinion, it most probably has something to do with recruiting students. Star Academy hasn’t carried out an exchange with other schools for a few years already, if it’s not about the student recruitment then what is it?” Hong Tao had some objections. If it really was as he thought, then his chances would be huge. Zuo Tingyi knew the strength of this good friend of his; Hong Tao’s true strength was far above what he displayed normally.

“Then why would they choose our school?” Zuo Tingyi went straight to the heart of the issue.

That’s right, if it was because of their student recruitment, why would Star Academy choose Dong Wei Inst.i.tute? There were plenty of inst.i.tutes that were more powerful than Dong Wei Inst.i.tute, why would they still turn to Dong Wei Inst.i.tute?

“Eh…” Hong Tao was a little lost for words.

“I wonder whether the ones coming this time are students from the inner court court2 or the outer court,” Zuo Tingyi said pensively.

“It’s best if they’re inner court students, outer court students aren’t very interesting.” Hong Tao pushed the previous issue aside, welcoming this new topic of Zuo Tingyi’s.

Zuo Tingyi looked at Hong Tao in disdain, “I’m afraid even the outer court students of Star Academy might not get along with a few of the so-called experts of our school.” He distinctly enunciated the words “so-called experts” syllable by syllable.

Hong Tao laughed dryly, “Tingyi, what you’re saying is ‘inflating others’ self-worth, and drowning out one’s own ability’.”