ccnovels Chapter 102 : Chapter 102
Chapter 102 : Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Volume 6 of the manga had ended.
When Ji Qing finally found time to read the manga after finishing his meal gathering with Shao Huayu and the others, he noticed it immediately.
On the Kuman Website, a conspicuous red completed tag appeared in the upper-right corner of the cover for 《Ability Hunter Academy》. The cover had also long since been replaced by one with blue as its dominant tone, but that was not all—
Where previous covers had always featured a full front-facing image of Xie Chang’an, this one had been replaced with a full front-facing image of Gu Lingxue.
Gu Lingxue stood with her left hand clenched into a fist before her chest and her right hand gripping an ice sword that emitted a chill, her gaze fixed resolutely ahead. Behind her were side-profile images of Ji Qing and Xie Chang’an, the three of them arranged in an almost inverted triangle.
Farther back, the background of the cover included a dim wilderness, worn-out Elevated Tracks, the wreckage of a derailed train, and other scenery.
The moment Ji Qing saw it, he understood.
Whether one judged from the cover of Volume 6 or from his own firsthand experience, Gu Lingxue was the undisputed protagonist of Volume 6 of 《Ability Hunter Academy》. Her importance in the plot of Volume 6 had even exceeded that of Xie Chang’an, the manga’s actual protagonist.
“Not bad at all,” Ji Qing murmured softly.
I just wonder what the readers think of it. Ji Qing thought calmly. But since Gu Lingxue was the protagonist of Volume 6, the readers probably would not have too many complaints. She had been part of the main cast since Volume 1, so it was only natural for her to receive this kind of spotlight now.
As early as Volume 3, Ji Qing had already noticed that Yuexia Cao had been carefully shaping Gu Lingxue’s storyline.
Back then, Gu Lingxue had repeatedly been anxious over her parents’ disapproval. Who would have thought that this family problem would erupt outright in Volume 6 of the manga? Ji Qing could not help sighing. “This development really did come full circle.”
What surprised Ji Qing, however, was this:
The experiences of the three of them over that single night—at most two days and one night if counted generously—had actually been enough to fill an entire volume of the manga.
Ji Qing reached out and scrolled the mouse, briefly glancing over the chapter count for Volume 6.
It was actually fairly long. Ji Qing was secretly surprised.
Although it could not compare to Volume 3, which had covered the Ability Test, the Individual Competition, the Team Competition, and so many other plotlines, its chapter count was almost on par with the other volumes. Ji Qing thought oddly, Did that much really happen to us last night?
At the time, things had been far too urgent for him to dwell on it.
Just as he had not chosen to look up the files or contact Emerald immediately now, and had instead decided to read the manga first. His mind had already been nearly exhausted that afternoon while gathering information on Central City. He did not want to think about anything too complicated right now, which was why he had come to read the manga instead.
One reassuring thing was this: nothing had happened on You Xingluo’s side.
Just as Ji Qing had originally speculated, You Xingluo had successfully avoided the death flag in the original manga storyline. Ji Qing was now certain that this absolutely had something to do with You Xingluo’s enrollment. It seemed that his enrollment had made some people lower their guard against him.
Still, he could not relax too much. Ji Qing intended to have the System keep watching.
Ji Qing thought this with a perfectly clear conscience: since the System was free labor, it would be a waste not to use it. The System would definitely be happy to be of use as well.
But once his thoughts reached that point—it was about time for him to look at the manga readers’ opinions too.
The response should be pretty good, right? Ji Qing thought hesitantly.
Volume 6 of 《Ability Hunter Academy》 began with “the train conversation between Xie Chang’an and Gu Lingxue.” After working together once more in Volume 5, both of them could not help looking forward to their future stories at the academy, but Gu Lingxue also subtly revealed her worries about her parents.
The train soon arrived in Yancheng. Just as the two of them were chatting and laughing on their way to school, Gu Lingxue suddenly caught sight of a strangely familiar figure from behind in the flow of people passing through the station. But before she could step forward to take a closer look, the figure vanished into the crowd again.
A trace of unease immediately rose in Gu Lingxue’s heart.
【This is starting to feel a little suspenseful】
【This cover this time around? Did the protagonist become Lingxue?】
【As expected of the manga’s female lead (deadpan)】
【This volume is not going to be entirely about Lingxue’s story, is it? Has Chang’an just been set aside like that?】
【Wait… is the third person on the cover Ji Qing?】
【Why does the third person’s silhouette look so much like Ji Qing? That is not just my imagination, right?】
【It is the Valedictorian, it really is the Valedictorian!】
【Whoa, whoa, whoa, it feels like something incredible is about to happen (sparkling-eyes.jpg)】
The barrage of comments suddenly grew excited the moment Ji Qing was mentioned.
Ji Qing, the person at the center of the discussion, smiled helplessly at that. He could understand the readers’ excitement. The main reason was that the last volume in which he had appeared prominently had planted quite a few mysteries, and he himself was rather mysterious as well.
Because of that, the readers had developed a strong desire to learn more about him.
Although for Ji Qing himself, seeing the readers’ reactions did leave him somewhat embarrassed.
In the manga, Xie Chang’an and Gu Lingxue continued toward the school.
While waiting for the bus, Gu Lingxue saw those two familiar figures from behind again. This time she hurried after them, and Xie Chang’an quickly followed after her as well.
When they got closer, Gu Lingxue discovered that the figures truly were her parents.
Why are Dad and Mom here? Another wave of unease rose in Gu Lingxue’s heart. But before she could figure out why, her parents’ conversation had already revealed the purpose of their trip: they had come to transfer her to another school.
Gu Lingxue was both embarrassed and furious after hearing that.
【Aaaaaaaaaah】
【The spoiler was still going to explode no matter what (despair)】
【I hate this kind of domestic family drama】
【Seriously? After Chang’an kept bouncing back and forth over the withdrawal line, now it is Lingxue’s turn?】
【These two really are the male and female leads】
【So Yuexia really gave them the same treatment, just in this very specific way… (hard to describe)】
Gu Lingxue directly rushed forward and started arguing with her parents.
Xie Chang’an, who arrived a moment later, was at a total loss and could only stand stiffly by the roadside like a utility pole, all the while hearing countless criticisms of himself from Gu Lingxue’s parents. Xie Chang’an thought awkwardly, This is… this is so mortifying…
The battleground soon shifted to the school.
Gu Lingxue’s parents, infuriated by their daughter’s confession, marched straight to the teacher’s office, and Gu Lingxue was stunned to find Ji Qing there as well. Ji Qing had already finished registering for the new term and had just been chatting with the teacher.
When the Gu parents forcefully pushed the door open, Ji Qing looked over the group with troubled eyes.
Gu Lingxue immediately felt so humiliated that she wanted to disappear into the ground.
【What kind of mortifying scene is this?】
【Forget Lingxue wanting to vanish into the ground, even I am so ashamed I want to dig a hole and crawl into it on the spot】
【Lingxue is still the Valedictorian’s little fangirl (soft tone)】
【Having your idol personally witness your parents’ overbearing behavior… that is terrifying…】
【Gu Lingxue: QAQ】
【Teacher, can our Lingxue please not have to participate in a plot like this?】
The Gu parents sharply questioned the teacher. Ji Qing stood quietly to the side, his brows faintly furrowed. Although he was not the focus of the scene, Yuexia Cao still portrayed with great delicacy the disgust he felt at having to witness such a thing.
The parents’ accusations grew harsher and harsher, and Gu Lingxue herself gradually became more irritable as well.
Realizing that the matter could not be resolved anytime soon, Li Xuehua immediately decided to let Ji Qing leave first, while she stayed behind alone to speak with the family of three.
【I pity the teacher for one second】
【I pity the teacher for infinitely many seconds】
【I feel like the teacher is about to lose all her hair. She looks visibly much more exhausted than before】
【“Was it not our money that paid for your tuition and travel expenses?”
“If they have no parents, do you want to have no parents too?”】
【That is way too harsh, is it not?】
【I feel like Yuexia has already mastered the East Asian child’s psychological trauma. I have heard every one of those lines so many times that they are painfully familiar TAT】
【I originally wanted to side with the parents, mostly because what they said did make some sense. Parents should be informed when their child is promoted to a higher class. But the moment I heard those later lines…
Sorry, I switched sides on the spot.】
【Not informing them is what should be normal】
【Wasteland high school corresponds to our university. What university student gets their parents notified over being promoted to a higher class or failing a class?】
【Wasteland high school = a normal university, wasteland university = a normal graduate program】
【Yuexia even went out of his way to emphasize that in earlier volumes. And most people choose to marry a few years after graduating from high school, which obviously maps onto a normal world’s university stage】
Well, it was a wasteland, after all. Ji Qing pondered to himself as he read.
At first, Ji Qing himself had not realized that either, but what he had seen and heard during winter break had successfully broadened his horizons. In a sense, that change was also part of how wasteland humanity adapted while struggling against the natural environment. It was proof of humanity’s own stubborn will to survive.
The manga’s perspective then shifted to outside the office.
Ji Qing noticed Xie Chang’an standing there foolishly to one side and said in a cool tone, “You came to register too? So why are you still standing here? Are you afraid to go in now?”
Xie Chang’an stood there stiffly.
Because of what had happened during Winter Break Practicum, he also knew very well that the Valedictorian definitely would not like him. So he explained his situation, but just as he thought Ji Qing was about to leave directly, Ji Qing turned his head and said, “How much longer are you planning to stay here?”
After their brief exchange, Xie Chang’an realized that the Valedictorian was actually pointing him in the right direction.
Slightly flattered, he hurried after Ji Qing.
【Chang’an’s sense of deservingness is so low】
【On the one hand, I think it is funny, but on the other hand, it also makes me feel sad】
【Is the Valedictorian actually a tsundere? (dazed)】
【I do not know. I only know that Ji Qing’s attributes are so complicated. At this point I can no longer make sense of his character setting】
【Where is the tsundere part?】
【Because Ji Qing probably did not take those foolish things the protagonist did during Winter Break Practicum to heart at all. Only Chang’an and the rest of us thought he disliked him, right?】
【When you put it that way… that does make sense…】
“And what exactly is strange about that?” Ji Qing tilted his head in confusion.
He tried to recall Xie Chang’an’s performance during Winter Break Practicum, then thought with amusement: though that was true enough. If the person Xie Chang’an had been using as a Substitute had not been Li Yuan, Ji Qing’s impression of him might very well have sunk straight to rock bottom.
So it was perfectly normal that Xie Chang’an and the manga readers would make that guess.
In the manga, the two of them took their seats at the dining table one after the other.
Because of Ji Qing’s aloof remark, Xie Chang’an mistakenly thought that Ji Qing believed he was thinking about something he should not be thinking about again. Xie Chang’an quickly tried to explain, but Ji Qing’s expression turned increasingly strange. Just as the two of them had fallen into a stalemate, Lu Qingyin’s greeting broke the silence.
That morning, when Xie Chang’an and the others arrived at school, Lu Qingyin had seen them.
Out of concern for Gu Lingxue, she had come specifically to ask what had happened. Xie Chang’an hesitated a little after hearing that, but Ji Qing bluntly told her the truth. Because of that, the three of them also ended up discussing their reasons for enrolling in Ability High School.
【Wow, wow, wow, both of them are so clear-headed】
【Ji Qing’s reason is so plain and straightforward. Is it really just because it lets the future become broader?】
【Haha】
【Even if Ji Qing had not enrolled, he still would have had many paths open to him in the future. But going to school really is the best option for children like them】
【A diploma from Ability High School is so important】
【It feels a bit like one of those professional qualification certificates. Without that diploma, it is hard to enter the field】
【Is that not the same for us too?
Is the knowledge we learn in university really all that useful? In the end, is it not still for the sake of that diploma?】
【To be honest, it is not useful at all (honest)】
After hearing the reasons the other two had given, Xie Chang’an came up with a way to help Gu Lingxue. Yet after running off excitedly, he returned to the dormitory building in total defeat.
In the corridor of the dormitory building, the dazed Xie Chang’an ran into Ji Qing again.
Ji Qing could not help laughing as he teased him a few times. Xie Chang’an staggered forward a couple of steps, then—THUD!—collapsed at Ji Qing’s feet. With difficulty, he stretched out a hand, tugged at Ji Qing’s pant leg, and begged for help. “Save me, save me, QAQ…”
Ji Qing was shocked.
Ji Qing fell silent.
Ji Qing politely stepped back a few paces.
【Wait—protagonist, you?!】
【I am dying. So this is what happens when someone personally witnesses a family dispute and gets driven insane on the spot】
【There is no future in being human.jpq】
【Xie Chang’an: So, I have decided not to be human anymore!】
【I feel like the protagonist is very suited to being a paramecium right now, haha】
The barrage comments instantly dissolved into laughter.
Even Ji Qing could not help covering the corners of his mouth, unable to suppress his smile. He really had been startled by Xie Chang’an at the time. All he could say was that it had been truly entertaining. Ji Qing thought with amusement: after this chapter, the readers would probably start producing a whole series of Xie Chang’an “creeping darkly” reaction images.
(Xie Chang’an screaming, twisting, and creeping darkly).jpg
(Xie Chang’an writhing and squirming darkly).jpg
(Xie Chang’an, a connected maggot).jpg
The more Ji Qing thought about it, the less he could hold back his laughter. “Hahaha…”
Was this not just far too amusing? If he could spread information from the manga to the outside world, he would absolutely save every single one of them and send them to Xie Chang’an every day so that Xie Chang’an himself could properly appreciate his widely beloved “beautiful” reaction images.
“Sigh, what a pity.” Ji Qing shook his head regretfully.