The next two and a half months crawled by, and I did come across the occasional weird instances where rowdy students would try to challenge me to a fight, asking to meet me in the courtyard at the back, at the rooftop or even someplace outside the school.
Since I was busily studying for the examinations, I didn't bother with their nonsense. I ignored them and stood them up, not caring if they were pissed off. I didn't have time to waste on their bullshit. If they had a problem, they could come up and challenge me in the classroom. I wasn't going to accompany them to some strange place somewhere.
I was under no obligation to play their stupid games. Besides, I had a legitimate reason for avoiding these meaningless challenges. Also, what the hell was wrong with them? The all-important Gao Kao was fast approaching, and instead of worrying about it and studying for the exams like good students, they wanted to pick fights and waste their time in weird places?
Fuck them.
Not only that, I had just attended a funeral for a good friend, as well as having to watch out for more demonic cultivators from the far future. Needless to say, I was in a foul mood. My patience was stretched too thinly and I refused to put up with other people's nonsense.
Before I knew it, the Gao Kao was here and I found myself struggling through the exams. Stepping into the massive school hall where the desks were laid out individually, we took our seats and waited for our papers to be distributed. Once the invigilators signaled the start of the exam, we then proceeded to fill out the scripts in front of us.
Two weeks. The Gao Kao lasted for two weeks. Of course I didn't have to take exams everyday – only the days when my selected subjects were tested on. High school students had chosen their stream and the subjects that they planned to take during the third year, so if I didn't want to study physics, I threw that out. I had also dropped biology, focusing instead of math, chemistry and literature in addition to the languages. Instead of geography, I went for history.
On paper, I was in the science stream, but I had selected a couple of arts courses because that was where my interests lay. For example, English Literature. I still remembered Jin Bai He's astonishment when she saw the books I had borrowed.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, huh? Damn it, just thinking about her brought a fresh wave of pain. I forced myself to focus on the exams instead.
Thankfully, I only needed to show up in school for about half of the two weeks set aside for the exams. On the days when the other subjects were tested, I spent them at home, studying for the upcoming ones. I also felt relieved that several of them were over.
And just like that, the Gao Kao was over.
"Finally!"
"We're done!"
"Yay!"
Exiting the classroom, I listened to Tong Xue, Ban Zhang and the rest of my classmates cheer or express their relief.
"Hey, let's celebrate the end of exams!"
"Great idea! Shall we go for karaoke?"
"Maybe we should have some Korean barbeque. I know just the place! They let you grille your own meat! It's an all you can eat buffet!"
"Sounds great!"
While my classmates broke up into various groups to do their own thing now that their exams were over, I decided to go straight home.
"Shu Cong, are you not joining us?" Tong Xue asked. I shook my head.
"I'm going home to catch some sleep. Stayed up late studying yesterday." I stifled a yawn. "Maybe I'll play a few games when I wake up."
"Sounds like a plan." Tong Xue gave me a thumb's up. "I'll see you next time then!"
"Okay."
While I honestly intended to sleep, I also planned to train a bit more after I woke up instead of playing games. But I doubted I could tell Tong Xue that. It wasn't that I was afraid they would think I was a martial arts freak, but rather they would think I was doing my usual chuunibyou antics with the whole cultivation or martial arts thing.
Over the past year, I had progressed with Heavenly Flow and Earthly Paths a lot more than I expected. Still, I was feeling slightly dissatisfied with the pace of my progress. I had this unsettling feeling, as if I was on the verge of a breakthrough, only to hit a bottleneck. Perhaps I was about to attain Earth realm, but for some reason I was stuck at the peak of Black realm.
Was it because I needed more combat experience? That made sense. However, when I consulted Ye Wu Tian over the phone, he offered an advice
"It's not just fighting alone," the Divine Dragon Sect elder had told me. "Comprehension of the technique…figuring out something you haven't before…improving stances or execution during practice or actual combat…all these also contribute to progressing your skills. Once you advance your techniques further, then only will you be able to advance to the next realm."
I nodded. That made sense. But I felt like I would comprehend the technique better by actually fighting. Still, I couldn't help but feel some frustration at the impediments to my progress. What did I need to do in order to make a breakthrough?
"Cong? What's the matter?" Dad asked. I realized that I was distracted by my thoughts while having breakfast and shook my head.
"Nah, just thinking some stuff."
"Well, you should hurry," Mom instructed and gestured toward my half-eaten breakfast. "This is the last week of school, isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah. It is." I nodded. The exams were over, but we were returning to prepare for the graduation ceremony at the end of the week. It felt surreal. After three years of high school, we were now leaving it for good, embarking on a new journey.
We would return to Gao Zhong High later to receive the results of our Gao Kao, but by then we probably would be doing so as alumni and no longer as official students.
Gulping down the rest of my breakfast, I then washed the dishes and strode toward the door. I was the last to leave the house as usual, both my parents calling out before they left for work. Locking the door, I then hurried toward Gao Zhong High.
There was a strange feeling in my heart, something akin to bittersweet nostalgia. It hadn't hit me before, but I realized that this really would be my last week in high school. It was unlikely that I would ever return here again.
"…man, I'll miss this place."
Stopping by the school gate, I glanced up and studied the building. Tong Xue chuckled when he saw me, and he gave me a little shove.
"Why are you standing here? Let's go."
"Yeah, okay." I shook my head to snap out of it and continued.
On my way to the classroom, I passed by several familiar figures.
"Ugh…I definitely flunked math!" Mu Zi Xing was groaning as she held her head in despair, her long hair trailing through her fingers. Beside her, the long-suffering Si Nan sighed.
"It's your fault for not listening to me when I taught you."
"What else can I do? I don't have any talent in math!"
"That's just an excuse."
"Ugh…what now?" Mu Zi Xing looked like she was on the verge of tears. "I won't be able to make it to the same university as you now."
Si Nan studied her for a moment, and then reached out to ruffle her hair. "Don't worry. The results aren't out yet. Have faith. You'll definitely make it. I believe in you."
At first, Mu Zi Xing was pouting because she thought Si Nan was treating her like a kid, but when she heard his words, she softened and blushed slightly.
"I hope so too," she said softly.
"Why aren't those two dating yet?" I muttered under my breath and continued toward my classroom. I hadn't taken more than a few steps before I ran into another familiar face.
"Shi Xiao Nian, are you doing all right?"
Shi Xiao Nian glanced up at me before nodding hesitantly. She was still clutching the scrapbook that she had brought to the taekwondo tournament – the last one that Jin Bai He participated in. She had shown me a few pictures inside her scrapbook once – they were panels depicting Jin Bai He's matches, capturing the taekwondo champion in all of her glory.
We were going to miss her. We still did. I couldn't help but worry because I knew Shi Xiao Nian would be the one most devastated by the loss of her best friend.
"Don't worry. I did my best…I have to work hard for Bai He's sake, too. I have to get into university and live for the both of us."
"Yeah, but don't push yourself too hard."
"Don't worry." Shi Xiao Nian took a deep breath and smiled. At least she was no longer crying. Time had been the only way for such grievous wounds to heal. "I'm applying to an art college, to pursue my dream of becoming a cartoonist. Their requirements aren't as demanding."
She giggled.
"At least they won't be as demanding as Guo Jiao University. You're applying for that one, right?"
"Uh, yeah. I don't know if I'll be able to make it in, though. It depends totally on my results."
"If it's you, you'll definitely make it. We all know how smart you are."
"Nah. It's still up in the air."
I shook my head humbly. The both of us stepped into our classroom, accompanied by Tong Xue, who had just returned from the restroom. When we entered, Ban Zhang lifted his head and waved at me.
"Hey, Shu Cong. Did you get any weird challenges today?"
"Hmm? No." Now that I thought about it, the challenges and invitations to "settle affairs outside school" had ceased in the last week in school. The people constantly harrying me had wised up to the fact that I would reject them every time, and they had finally given up. Either that or it dawned on them that the Gao Kao was approaching and they had to focus on studying for the exams instead of picking fights.
Or so I thought, but I was still too naïve.
We spent the rest of the day arranging decorations in the hall to prepare for the graduation ceremony at the end of the week. After carting décor here and there, I returned to the classroom and stayed back for a bit longer to help Ban Zhang. As our class president, he was supposed to deliver a short speech, and he wanted my opinion on it.
"Sorry about that." Ban Zhang looked apologetic after we were finally done with the task. I shook my head.
"No, it's fine. I'm always happy to help."
"Thanks for your help," Ban Zhang said. "I'll treat you to a meal today."
"There really isn't a need to…"
The both of us strolled down the corridor, engaging in good-natured conversation. When we neared the exit, I could hear some sort of commotion going on outside. I wasn't sure about the details, but apparently there was a huge crowd at the school gate.
Then Si Nan overtook and rushed past us, his face grave. He skidded to a stop and turned to me.
"Shu Cong," he growled. "You should come with me."
"Huh? What?" I was caught off guard. "What's going on?"
Si Nan pointed toward the crowd, his expression murderous.
"A few bastards showed up at the gate earlier, and they abducted a little girl, who is supposedly Na Lan Yan Ran's younger sister." He clenched his fists, trembling in fury. "Zi Xing was nearby, and she tried to help…only for those fuckers to kidnap her along with Na Lan Yan Ran's sister."