Gu Xiao woke up, his mind blank. He struggled to get up, staring at the golden star in front of him.
"What just happened?"
As he saw Gao Teng's figure, Gu Xiao immediately assumed a defensive stance. The laser light quickly converged in the palm of his hand.
"What are you doing?" Xue Dong's cold voice cut through the air. "Who are you trying to scare?"
Gu Xiao frowned, not understanding Xue Dong's tone. He wiped the blood from his face and said, "I was careless before, but I won't lose again. The battle has just begun. You don't seriously think a little injury will make me give up, do you?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in Gu Xiao's words.
"The battle has just begun?" Xue Dong looked at him, confused. "Have you been drinking fake wine?"
Gu Xiao stood there, speechless.
"Don't you know you've been unconscious for over an hour?"
"Unconscious for over an hour?"
Gu Xiao's face twisted in surprise. He looked at the others around him. From their expressions, he could tell Xue Dong was telling the truth.
"Impossible!" Gu Xiao couldn't accept it. "How could I have been unconscious for that long? You all must be playing a trick on me!"
Xue Dong sighed, rubbing his forehead, looking both annoyed and amused. "Guessing time by looking at the sun is something you learn in kindergarten. You should try it sometime, kid."
Gu Xiao clenched his teeth. That remark was clearly meant as an insult.
"Take a look at the sky," Xue Dong's tone softened, dripping with false sweetness. He pointed up, a grin spreading across his face. "What time is it, little Gu Xiao?"
Grinding his teeth, Gu Xiao quickly looked up. The sky was painted in a deep blood-red, the sun hanging low near the treetops.
It was evening.
His pupils trembled. Could he really have been unconscious for over an hour?
"Alright," Xue Dong waved him off, "don't mind him. He needs some time to question his life choices. Now, onto something more important. Everyone, listen up—"
"Impossible! This is impossible!" Gu Xiao's shout interrupted him.
"What's wrong now?" Xue Dong asked, exasperated. "The facts are right in front of you. What are you still clinging to?"
"How could Gao Teng be better than me? You must have done something to sabotage me!" Gu Xiao insisted, his voice rising in disbelief.
Xue Dong scoffed, his expression full of disdain. "Do you even hear yourself before you say things like that? Do you really think you're worthy of being sabotaged?"
"I know I'm not much, but Gao Teng has S-level potential. For someone like him, you'd do anything to help his future."
"There are over a hundred people here, all witnesses. If you don't believe me, ask them."
"I don't believe it!" Gu Xiao's voice grew more frantic. "You're all in on this!"
Xue Dong sighed again, deeply tired. "You should leave yourself some dignity. Why bother with this?"
Gu Xiao's gaze fixated on Gao Teng, eyes blazing with fury. "Unless he fights me again and I lose fair and square, I won't believe any of this!"
He couldn't accept the reality. His mind was fraying at the edges, desperate for some explanation other than his own defeat.
"What do you think, Gao Teng?" Xue Dong asked.
"He can fight if he wants. I don't mind."
"Alright, then. Teach him a lesson. Not only is he weak, but his head's not screwed on right. A person like that won't last two months in the Security Bureau."
Gu Xiao wasn't listening. His mind was fixated on one thing: winning against Gao Teng.
"Ready?" Xue Dong asked.
"No problem."
"Begin."
Gu Xiao wasted no time. With a roar, he unleashed his attack. Destructive energy gathered in his hands, and he sent out a barrage of red energy bullets, firing them at Gao Teng like a storm.
Gao Teng activated his speed enhancement, his figure becoming elusive, dodging every energy bullet as he closed the distance between them.
Gu Xiao's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't track Gao Teng's movements—all he could see were blurry afterimages.
"How is this possible?!" His face twisted in disbelief.
Could it be? Is Gao Teng really better than me?
The thought gnawed at him, but he pushed it away.
"No! I can't lose! If I lose, I'll be the laughingstock of everyone!"
"Arghhh!"
With a feral scream, Gu Xiao's arms surged with even more energy. The force was overwhelming, tearing his skin and leaving deep, bloody wounds.
"Go!"
He pushed his hands forward, releasing a laser beam so intense it barely missed Gao Teng, crashing into the stands with an explosive blast.
"You've lost."
Gao Teng appeared in front of Gu Xiao in an instant, his hand covering Gu Xiao's face.
"How… How can this be…?"
With a sudden, powerful motion, Gao Teng slammed Gu Xiao's head into the ground, sending gravel flying.
Gu Xiao's head tilted to the side as he lost consciousness once more.
Gao Teng looked at his hand, puzzled. "It wasn't that hard of a hit... why did he faint?"
"Don't worry about him," Xue Dong replied, waving it off. "He just can't accept reality. Let him lie there."
Xue Dong, ever the charitable soul, couldn't help but add, "Alright, everyone. Take out your phones and get some pictures of our dear friend Gu Xiao. It'll serve as a great reminder of the lesson we all learned today."
"..."
"What a fool," Xue Dong sighed. "This is an important lesson for all of us, one that should be shared with the world. Do you agree?"
"Yes!" The crowd, eager for some entertainment, clapped in agreement.
"…"
Suddenly, Gu Xiao sprang to life, clutching his face as he bolted from the scene.
There was no place for him in this world.
"What a shame," Xue Dong said, watching him flee. "A video of that would've gone viral."
"Now, back to business," Xue Dong announced. "Even though you've earned a spot in the Security Bureau, there's still a final test you must pass: completing ten D-level missions within a month. If you don't meet the standard, it means you're not strong enough, and you'll have to start as non-staff members."
He continued, "The tasks are fairly easy to complete, so don't worry too much. Plus, you can team up."
"Team up?"
"That's right, pairs of two. You're both newcomers, lacking experience, and the Security Bureau is short-handed. You'll have to rely on each other to grow."
Xue Dong smiled mischievously. "Now, I've arranged the teams, and while I'll listen to any complaints, don't expect me to change my mind."
"…"
Gao Teng couldn't help but smile as Xue Dong continued. "Gao Teng, Fang Meng—you're a team."