Seeing the short-haired boy's comical behavior, the principal turned to the grade director with a smile.
"This kid's talent, if I remember correctly, doubles the power of knife attacks and has a special suppression effect."
"The quality of this year's students is quite high. This Class 8 even produced two with S-rank talents."
"Also, some of the students with life-oriented jobs have promising potential."
The grade director quickly responded.
"After all, 'jobs' are just a human classification. Sometimes, pairing a seemingly unremarkable job with a certain talent can result in unexpectedly powerful outcomes."
The principal remained noncommittal. "True, whether a job can fully exert its potential often depends on the talent... However, in general, combat-oriented jobs still far outclass the life-oriented ones in terms of strength."
The grade director chuckled in agreement. "Of course, otherwise, why would the stronger jobs be categorized under combat?"
Suddenly, the principal spotted a familiar face and raised his voice in surprise. "Isn't that the eldest son of Wang family's third master, Wang Xianxian? Why isn't he with the Wang family group but standing here in line?"
The grade director immediately explained, "He mostly keeps his distance from the other Wang family children at school."
"Why is that?" the principal asked, puzzled.
The grade director sighed. "Wang Xianxian is frequently bullied by the younger Wang family members. I've reported the issue to the Wang family before, but no one ever intervenes. The Wang family students at the school seem to deliberately target him."
"And Wang Xianxian? Does he just take it?"
"He's not one to back down. Every time they bully him, he fights back, even if it leaves him battered. I eventually moved him to Class 8, where there are no other Wang family members."
"Strange," the principal frowned. "In any family, internal bullying is a serious matter, especially for a family of the Wang family's stature. Why would they ignore it?"
The grade director shook his head, speaking with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Principal, you know as well as I do that the Heavenly Sword Wang family lost its imperial grandeur long ago. If it weren't for the sudden news fifteen years ago about their long-lost ancestor, the Sword Emperor, they wouldn't be so arrogant now."
"I know Wang Xianxian. Though his talent isn't extraordinary, he has a strong heart for seeking the path. Even a child like that, with an unremarkable talent, could still achieve great heights. Yet the Wang family allows him to be mistreated. It's disgraceful for a family of their stature."
The principal gazed deeply at Wang Xianxian below, his eyes full of contemplation.
"Hardship refines the mind and spirit. Those with unshakable determination will eventually break free from their cocoons and soar."
Sensing the grade director had more to say, the principal gently patted him on the shoulder. "Enough. Let's see what job the boy awakens."
On the awakening platform, the staff member called out the next name.
"Next, Wang Xianxian."
The young boy took a deep breath, anxiety swirling in his chest as he stepped up to the platform. Standing firmly on the awakening circle, he closed his eyes, clutching the pendant in his right hand. In his heart, he softly muttered:
"Mom, I'm about to awaken my job..."
In that instant, Wang Xianxian felt a mysterious power stirring inside him, growing stronger under the guidance of the awakening circle. Just as the force was about to erupt from his body, something changed. The mysterious power suddenly went silent, unresponsive to the circle's pull, no matter how hard it tried.
Sensing this shift within, Wang Xianxian's face turned pale.
As the light from the awakening circle faded, the staff's voice echoed.
"Wang Xianxian, life-oriented job: **Brewer**, talent awakening failed."
It was as if the staff member had just sentenced the boy to death. Staring at the bright, almost blinding words on the stone, Wang Xianxian's face went ashen, his eyes vacant.
The moment the staff's words fell, the crowd exploded into whispers.
"Whoa, talent can actually fail to awaken?"
"Is that the point? The point is that Wang Xianxian awakened as a Brewer!"
"Right! Why would a Wang family member awaken a non-sword-related job?"
"Whoa, there's a story here with Wang Xianxian."
"Maybe something like... a betrayal?"
On the leader's podium, the school officials were equally shocked.
The grade director stared in disbelief at the glowing words on the awakening stone. "How... could this happen?"
The principal's eyes narrowed sharply as he gazed at the boy on the stage. His tone turned grave.
"This... is going to be big."
Down by the stage, the younger Wang family members smirked, their faces full of schadenfreude.
"A Brewer? He's really disgracing the Wang family."
"He's supposed to be the third master's son, but compared to Beichen, the difference is ridiculous."
"Well, think about it. The son of a mere merchant's daughter could never compare to Beichen, whose mother is the illustrious Madam Murong."
"Still, why did Wang Xianxian awaken as a Brewer? Don't we all have the Sword Emperor's bloodline? How could his job be so different?"
"Who knows, maybe he's actually some bastard born from his mother and some random man."
The mocking words pierced Wang Xianxian's ears like countless blades stabbing at his heart. His breathing became labored.
The boy slowly raised his head, his once-bright eyes now hollow and filled with despair. He scanned the mocking faces of his relatives, his heart growing colder.
"Why..."
As if his spine had lost all support, Wang Xianxian's body slumped. His once-determined gaze now lifeless, he turned and walked down the stage. His lonely figure seemed out of place in the vibrant world around him.
Just as he stepped off the stage, Wang Xianxian was confronted by his arrogant younger brother, Wang Beichen.
Wang Beichen crossed his arms, glaring down at him with disdain.
"Better think hard about how you're going to explain this to Father."
"Having a brother like you... makes me sick."
Wang Xianxian ignored his brother's taunt, lost in a sea of doubt. Nothing around him seemed to matter anymore. He quietly walked back toward his class.
His friends and classmates tried to offer words of concern, but Wang Xianxian barely registered them. Overwhelming emotion clouded his mind, and before long, he collapsed from exhaustion.
"Teacher! The class president fainted!" his classmates shouted in panic.
...
"Mom, what's this?"
"It's wine, dear."
"What's wine?"
"It's a drink invented by our ancestors."
"A drink! I want to try!"
"Little ones can't have wine. It's bad for your health."
"If it's bad for you, why do grown-ups drink it?"
"Because wine helps people forget their troubles."
"Then when I grow up, I want to drink wine!"
"If possible, I hope you never have to."
"Why not?"
"Because..."
...
Unbeknownst to the unconscious boy, the gourd pendant in his pocket began to glow faintly, emitting a soft golden light.