Superhumans have a hierarchy that's far more stringent than that of ordinary people. Li Qian, accustomed to commanding respect and authority, was stunned when the E-rank student, Xin Yuan, dared to defy her. Her anger was palpable, and she was at a loss for how to handle the situation.
Xin Yuan's lack of psychological barriers made him exude a sense of oppression that caught Li Qian off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. The entire hall fell silent as the confrontation unfolded, with the spectators eagerly watching the drama.
Even Jun Anyi, normally unflappable, was taken aback by Li Qian's aggression toward Xin Yuan. Initially annoyed, Jun Anyi began to worry that Xin Yuan might face trouble from this unreasonable woman. However, she was not prepared for the impact of Xin Yuan's response.
Xin Yuan had dropped a significant line that reverberated through the crowd. Master Lu (Brother Xun)'s words still carried weight, even in this world, and Li Qian was left without a rebuttal. The students were left contemplating his words deeply.
Xin Yuan glanced around at the over hundred students present, pointed at the slogan on the wall, and said:
"It clearly states here, 'Food and drinks are free to take. Please replenish your energy before the test and make full preparations.'"
"So why aren't you eating? The food is quite good. Except for the green wolfberry, which you should avoid, many other items have special effects and can even enhance physical strength."
With that, Xin Yuan turned and walked away, plate in hand, as he still had food to finish.
An eerie silence followed...
The whole scene, which began and ended abruptly, had shifted the atmosphere from strained and awkward to relaxed, like a social gathering. Ye Ziluan and Chi Hong were the first to get up and head to the food area, each taking a plate. Their actions encouraged the remaining students to follow suit. The previously oppressive mood was replaced with a more relaxed, party-like atmosphere.
Xin Yuan, now a catalyst for the shift, found his food choices significantly reduced as more students flocked to the food area. He sighed, regretting his earlier greed.
Li Qian, seeing the situation deteriorate, became even more infuriated. She was experiencing impotent rage; fighting was impossible, and her attempts at conversation were ignored. The students who had left their seats after Xin Yuan's speech seemed to support him, making her feel even more marginalized.
At that moment, Jun Anyi, having passed by Li Qian without acknowledging her, approached Xin Yuan. Casually, Jun Anyi took a piece of fruit from Xin Yuan's plate and ate it.
Xin Yuan was taken aback. "Why did you just take that from my plate?"
Jun Anyi, enjoying the fruit, commented, "I didn't expect you to say such profound things. It's quite philosophical."
Xin Yuan, though a bit irritated by the fruit theft, replied, "What do you mean? Oh, you're referring to what I said earlier?"
"That's not my original line. It's a saying from my hometown, from someone who liked planting two jujube trees in front of their door," Jun Anyi explained with a smile. She was accustomed to Xin Yuan's enigmatic sayings and didn't let them bother her.
Jun Anyi then offered a piece of advice. "The woman earlier might be targeting you. You haven't revealed your true strength, and to everyone else, you're still just an E-rank. This assessment is your chance to prove yourself and silence the critics. Be careful of those around you."
Xin Yuan nodded, appreciating the reminder. He had heard similar advice from Jun Anyi frequently and was determined not to be careless.
"But if someone is set against you, nothing you do will change their minds," Xin Yuan said. "So, don't worry too much. I'll do my best in the assessment."
The conversation between them was relaxed, with both confident in Xin Yuan's abilities.
Li Qian, meanwhile, was left in the background, watching the interaction with a scowl. A student named Liu Peng, who was trying to curry favor with Li Qian, approached her and said, "Senior sister, this E-rank guy really has no rules and just talked his way in."
Li Qian, finally hearing someone agree with her, vented her frustration. "I've never seen Jun Anyi be so friendly with anyone. This guy must either be her relative or a gigolo!"
"Ah, yes, yes, I think so too," Liu Peng agreed eagerly.
Li Qian's eyes narrowed as she leaned closer to Liu Peng and whispered, "Liu Peng, remember to..."