Chapter 2: Threat
“Ding! Ding!”
A loud bell rang throughout the whole school, and the campus, that had been quiet only moment before, suddenly became boisterous. Inside the cla.s.sroom, Lin Haixin stopped her lecture, saying calmly, “We’ll end Today’s cla.s.s at that. According to tradition, the third grade students can sign up for more specialized cla.s.ses. That includes the study of runes. So for those of you who interested, you can come up to register.”
“Gu Yue, aren’t you interested in specializing in runes? Will you not enroll?” Students in twos and threes were walking on the campus road when a thin, monkey-like boy hooked his arm around Gu Yue’s shoulder.
His name was Liu Wei. He had been Gu Yue’s fellow cla.s.smate for many years. They both had similar experiences, and similar family backgrounds. The two were ‘in the same boat’ as they say, and although they were not brothers, they were as close as one could be.
“Rune cla.s.s?” Gu Yue hesitated a moment, but ended up shaking his head. “Just forget it. Not only will I end up having to spend a lot of time everyday, but it would require me to use a lot of spiritual power to progress in just rune identification and a.n.a.lysis. Without any supplements to help aid my spirit, even if we used the G.o.d of War Network, it still would cost me way too much.”
In the new era, martial arts and technology went hand in hand. Old-fashioned computers had long since been outdated, now replaced by more advanced technologies with greater computing power, including one that could work with your brain. And that was Optical Brain Technology. 1 Coupled with the power of arrays, already the online world had become somewhat of a second home to mankind.
In regards to what Gu Yue had mentioned, the G.o.d of War Network was a fighting network set up by the government. After being logged in, people could gather on a platform, essentially being in a spiritual form (a second body/ two places at once), where they can experience a similar experience as they would have physically, but through virtual combat. It was meant to enhance the experience of warriors.
However, to log in to the G.o.d of War Network and fight, it consumed spiritual power; and if you were killed in it, your spiritual power would get drained drastically, putting you in a weakened state. Basic recovery would take time. And if the consumption of your spiritual power was too great to even enter the G.o.d of War Network, not to mention fighting in it, even getting an account would have been difficult.
In the eyes of the wealthy, high consumption of one’s spiritual energy was not a problem. Five hundred credits of rejuvenation potions could quickly resolve it. But for the poor, like Gu Yue, depleting his spiritual energy meant having to rest for the rest of the day. He would practically be incapable of doing anything else.
All of Gu Yue’s monthly expenses costed him at most two thousand credits. That included his three meals a day, his dedicated room to practice his source energy, his treatment after high-intensity workouts, and more… there were just too many expenditures, and that left him with nothing left to get spirit drugs (supplements to bolster his spirit consumption).
This was the disparity between the rich and the poor. Just like in an online game, the difference between a VIP and a regular account. Even if Gu Yue wished to join the cla.s.s specializing in rune theory and application, in reality, he knew he couldn’t.
“What a shame.” Liu Wei sighed. He knew how heavy Gu Yue’s interest in arrays were, but unfortunately, for the poor, the pursuit of becoming an Array Master was too extravagant of a dream.
“What a shame? You slag, don’t tell me that… You dare though of trying to become Array Masters?” Suddenly a tall figure stopped in front of the two, laughing. “This toad’s croak is not small.”
“What did you say?” Liu Wei face a changed. In front of him was a boy who was both tall and stout. His clothes tight on his body, showcasing well developed pectoral muscles which sharply contrasting to the two’s slim stature. This boy was named Fan Chao, and he had completed his fourth refinement.
“I said that the two of you have no idea of the profundities of the rune arts. Of the thousands of students in our entire grade, those that meet the basic requirements to even join those rune cla.s.ses don’t even amount to no more than twenty. You two slags are at the bottom of the cla.s.s, and here you brag saying, ‘what a pity?’. It’s simply ridiculous.” Fan Chao sneered.
[TL- He’s talking of how they are saying that if only they had money they could do it. Fan Chao is sneering at them and combating with that you need more than just money.]
“The two of us are talking privately. This is none of your business!” Lui Wei felt angry and ashamed, nevertheless, his voice was not high, knowing he had to submit to this humiliation. .
“Oh my, listen to you…” Fan Chao’s lips curved, revealing a scornful smile. “Not convinced, are we? Do you want to compete with me then? The two of you against one? ”
Liu Wei snorted, but remained silent.
Martial arts started from refinement of the body. For each step further of one’s cultivation, the amount of strength one obtained was an increase of several times. And with Fan Chao’s fourth refinement stage cultivation, he could be considered in the middle of the cla.s.s in terms of strength. Compared to Gu Yue and Liu Wei, who both only completed their second refinement, he was way stronger.
Liu Wei knew in his heart that even if the two fought together, it was impossible to defeat Fan Chao. They would be like serving themselves up on a platter to be beaten ruthlessly by him.
“Someone in their fourth refinement against someone in their second. Even if you won, you’d just be a joke” Gu Yu said as he stepped forward. He looked angry, and glared provocatively at Fan Chao. “If you really don’t care to save face, I’ll lay down my life and fight you.”
“Gu Yue, you …” Liu Wei paled. He was anxious.
“Oh?” A trace of amazement flashed in Fan Chao’s eyes. Gu Yue seemed different. Everyone knows that in his position, they would have been beaten in the arena, and so, usually when he was provoked, they would swallow their humiliation. How come Gu Yue is so bold?” Today I have to rush, so I can’t play with you. Besides, I’m too lazy to sort you two out.”
“If you don’t want to fight, then get lost.” Gu Yue spoke with a cold indifference.
“Don’t rush!” Fan Chao’s face color slightly changed. He looked gloomy as he gazed at Gu Yue’s peaceful demeanor that had a hint of madness. He had an urge to plant his fist in the boy’s face, but faint palpitations of his heart allowed him to restrain those urges. “I was looking for you for something!”
“If you have something to say, then say it. If you have to fart, then fart.” Gu Yue’s complexion ashened and his appearance showed a faint hint of madness, unexpectedly shaking his head in disappointment
“Humph!” Fan Chao angry snorted and said, “Boss Liu He wanted me to give you a warning. In the future, stay away from Bai Ning Xue. Not everyone is a person that you dregs can get close to. You toads shouldn’t even think about eating swan meat!”
[TL: The famous ‘swan meat and toad’ line.]
“Bai Ning Xue?” The madness in Gu Yue’s appearance turned into a deep sense of loss as a faint, lucid and elegant figure flashed through his mind. In a moment, his imposing manner was completely held back, leaving behind only depression and loneliness.
“I… bah!” Liu Wei sneered and spat, his words filled with disdain, “Liu He did not have the ability to chase after Bai Ning Xue, and so he came right away to threaten Gu Yue. Bai Ning Xue and Gu Yue grew up as childhood sweethearts. To keep away from her, on what grounds do you or him have tell us to do so?
“On what grounds?” With my boss having undergone his seventh refinement, as well as being the top student in our cla.s.s; and in conjunction, with his father’s position in the school, with a single word, he would be able make you drop out.” Fan Chao said. “Considering that you are a fellow cla.s.smate, I will pretend that I did not hear those words. If this happens again,believe it or not, but I will beat the c.r.a.p.”
“I …” Liu Wei snorted, and was about to continue when Gu Yue stopped him, suddenly saying, “You can go tell Liu He that I have already drawn a line between me and Bai Ning Xue, and will no longer have any interactions with her again.”
Fan Chao blanked for a moment after hearing his unexpected reply. “It seems you’re sensitive to your situation. I tell you, you’d best be good to your word, otherwise, don’t blame us when the time comes, fellow cla.s.smates or not.” He glanced at Gu Yue, gave him a two thumbs down, and left wihtout thinking much of him anymore.
“Gu Yue, you… you do not have to be afraid of them.” Liu Wei said, disheartened. “Is it possible that because of a few menacing words, you would really break up with Bai Ning Xue?”
“Who’s afraid? Even if I don’t want to draw a line between us, then what? ” Gu Yue mocked himself. “We aren’t together, so what’s there to break up?”
“What?” Liu Wei, hearing this, was suprised for a moment. After a while, he understood, nodding, and said, “Yes, she’s a martial disciple who’s already undergone her seventh refinement, no less than Liu He, and she is beautiful. Leaving you would only be a matter of time. You shouldn’t let it get to you too much.”
“Forget it. Let’s not mention her. Are you still going up the Martial G.o.d Realm the next time you go?” Gu Yue waved his hand, and asked.
“Naturally! I already have some accomplishment in my innate Arhat boxing. I was planning to fully practice it into the Large accomplishment stage in one spurt!” The two people talked and walked while Liu Wei looked inspired. His eyes were raking all over the place until they landed on a male and female pair at the campus entrance – near the bus stop.
They were two very good looking students. The boy looked grave and stern, his facial features were sharp, like a blade, angular and curved. That was Fan Chao’s eldest brother, Liu He.
Liu He was not only the third year’s fifth cla.s.s’s cla.s.s monitor, and even more, an influential person in the school, but he had also completed his seventh refinement. Among the third years, he was among the top ten, most powerful students. Moreover, his family was extraordinary. His father was Seventh Junior High’s vice princ.i.p.al. Reining in Fan Chao and his kind would have been as easy as a wave of his hand.
At Liu He’s side was a beautiful girl. Her skin glistened like an empty valley of orchids, but at the same time was as flushed as a rose. When they stood together, they looked the perfect match.
This schoolgirl was precisely Bai Ning Xue!
A Source Car (car that uses source energy) stopped in front of the two people. Liu He, being the gentleman he was, opened the door, and let Bai Ning Xue step in. His mouth upturned, and a trace of a smile could be seen as he glanced at Gu Yue as if he had won something before he, too, got in.
The Source Car sped away.
In the new millennium, oil-burning cars have already been become near obsolete, replaced by the use of the source crystals (crystallization of source energy). Using just a small piece of source crystal, you could maintain the equivalent of the amount of gas consumed after driving thousands of kilometers. Regardless of speed or performance, they were far above the cars from the past.
However, not to mention cars that used source crystals, but the source crystals themselves were expensive. So the use of Source Cars was not as much as oil based ones. The ones that could afford to use them were mainly the really rich.
Liu Wei paled, finally understanding why Gu Yue had always been so calm. Now was not then. The sweetheart of his childhood changed and fell for someone else, throwing herself into another’s arms. If it were him, it’s possible even he would be unable to recover from such a blow.
Gu Yue’s eyes were despondent, sentimentally looking for a moment while his expression seemed distant, as if lost in memory. After a few moments, as if he was making some kind of farewell to his past, he decisively turned around and walked in the direction of the bus stop.