Translator: _Min_
Not a few trainees reveled in schadenfreude, delighting in Yan Yuanze’s misfortune.
His head pounding and throbbing, Yan Yuanze could hardly hear the murmuring voices around him. He quickened his pace, dashing into the restroom as if propelled by the wind.
After splashing his face with cold water several times, Yan Yuanze gradually regained his composure.
Even without Si Fuqing’s guidance, he had made it to the top fifty-five.
He didn’t doubt for a second that he would secure a spot to debut.
Si Fuqing would regret it then, lacking him as an option for debut.
Fuming, Yan Yuanze slammed his fist against the wall and returned to his dormitory with a stern expression.
Meanwhile, in Dance Room 2.
Xie Yu resumed his laid-back demeanor.
He bent down and picked up a can of coke from a nearby box. “Teacher Si, here’s your cola.”
“Ah,” Si Fuqing took it, responding leisurely. “You’re observant; I haven’t trained you for nothing.”
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow. “I’m indeed thankful for your guidance, Teacher Si.”
“You know,” Si Fuqing opened the soda can, eyes narrowing slyly, “you reminded me of someone just now.”
Xie Yu paused, his eyes sharpening for a moment, although his face still wore a relaxed smile. “Teacher Si, my face isn’t exactly commonplace.”
“Not the face,” Si Fuqing took a sip of coke. “It’s your protective stance earlier; it made me think of my elder senior brother. He’s rather aloof, but fiercely protective of those he cares for.”
Xie Yu blinked, clearly not expecting this answer. “Elder senior brother?”
He thought for a moment. Perhaps Si Fuqing met him during her overseas training.
A ‘senior’ implied there were also juniors.
Strangely enough, this left Xie Yu somewhat discontented.
“Alright,” Si Fuqing sent out the training schedule. “Train like this for the week. No one’s getting eliminated in the fourth episode, so no pressure. Prepare for the second performance.”
Xie Yu nodded.
After packing her things, Si Fuqing left the training base.
She hopped onto a shared bicycle and returned to her small apartment.
As soon as she opened her laptop, she received a message from Ji Xingzhi. [JI]: I’ve sent you all the data for this mission. Take a close look.
[NINE]: Understood.
Si Fuqing opened the file Ji Xingzhi sent her.
[The latest mission in “Oracle”, the martial world reopens, waiting for heroes from all walks of life to compete!]
“Oracle” is an international game, incorporating myths from both East and West.
She stroked her chin.
The game was updating rapidly. She hadn’t played in almost five years; she had no idea what “Oracle” was like now.
Logging into her long-dormant account, she was greeted by a character with a silver mask and a broadsword strapped to his back—a male character, exactly her type.
She liked a straightforward fight, hacking at enemies with a sword.
Si Fuqing clicked to enter the game.
Just as she got in, fireworks burst from her avatar’s taskbar, followed by popping text.
Si Fuqing:
She had forgotten that logging into this account triggered special effects visible to all players in the same scene.
Not wanting to announce her arrival, she quickly logged off.
But even though she had logged out swiftly, other players had noticed something unusual.
[Current User] [Toe-Picker]: WTF! I think I saw some impressive emblem! It flashed too fast, did anyone else see it?
[Current User][Little Fleece]: I saw it too! Anyone got a screenshot? I’m going to ask on the world channel.
A blurred screenshot soon made it to the world channel.
[World]: This emblem… so old-fashioned. It’s some kind of honor emblem, right? Only big shots have it. We can count them on one hand!
[World]: None of the big names on my list are online. Wait, could it be NINE?
[World]: What? NINE the God?
[World]: Can someone tell me who NINE is?
[World]: An old-timer in “Oracle”, you wouldn’t know him. His records are still up on the leaderboard. No one’s beaten them yet, go see for yourselves.
[World]: To be honest, what’s the big deal if it is NINE? You guys are too excited. He hasn’t shown up in years.. I could even beat him now!