IWYTBW - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Walking Alone and Encountering an Acquaintance You Don't Want to Talk to is the Most Awkward Situation...

The next day, Igarashi Sakura sent Yi Zhen a formal letter of commission.

Yi Zhen was initially startled upon receiving it, as he had always viewed Igarashi Sakura akin to an NPC issuing quests... perhaps slightly more intelligent than the household’s repetitive servant bots at most. To his surprise, her commission outlined meticulous and well-structured terms, leaving no detail unaddressed—a style reminiscent of the famously precise Japanese from Earth’s era.

The letter of commission was issued on a person-to-person basis, with assistance from the Interstellar Mercenary Association to provide valid authorization seals for as many as thirty-two planets. Apart from encompassing the requests Igarashi Sakura made yesterday, the compensation section listed “Pegasus of the Six Imperial Thrones” and “Angel of the Six Imperial Thrones,” effectively gifting Yi Zhen replicas of the two thrones from the palace.

Yi Zhen didn’t inquire about the cost Rong Hongxue paid for Gram, but assumed the other five statues were similarly priced. By offering him two replicas, Igarashi Sakura demonstrated considerable generosity in her proposal.

“Even as rewards for winning the championship, it’s probably sufficient...” Yi Zhen murmured thoughtfully. “I misjudged her. It seems she operates quite reasonably and considerately, unlike that Rong Clan bunch... They’re far worse.”

Tai’a responded, [I believe this is quite normal. The closer someone is to the protagonist, the greater your, or the story’s, influence on them. Conversely, the nameless minor characters from the original work have the highest degree of autonomy.]

[Speaking of which, Player,] Tai’a continued, [the preliminary rounds schedule for the Heroic Champion's Tournament has been announced on the Starnet. Would you like me to display it now?]

“Huh?” Yi Zhen wiped sweat from his face with his wrist, inadvertently smearing oily grime across it. He glanced at the calendar in the training room, “Already announced? But the open qualifiers aren’t until two weeks from now. Were the rules for the qualifiers not published?”

To motivate himself towards relentless hard work, embodying the spirit of perseverance, he had Tai’a set up a countdown calendar on the wall of the training room. Now, the calendar prominently displayed “15 days until competition start,” with the number “15” highlighted in vibrant neon colors, drawing immediate attention.

Strictly speaking, the Heroic Champion's Tournament was divided into two groups. One comprised students from various universities; as long as they were over 17 years old and had both their spiritual power and physical attributes exceeding C grade, they could enroll with their student ID, bypassing the preliminary rounds. The other group consisted of non-student participants, also known as open-category competitors—like Yi Zhen. Not only did these individuals need to undergo the screening process of the preliminaries, but there were also age and ability caps for open-category contestants. Anyone over 30 years old or possessing either spiritual power or physical attributes above A+ grade was ineligible to participate.

In just two weeks, it would be time for Yi Zhen’s preliminary round participation, yet surprisingly, the rules for those rounds hadn’t been released before the guidelines for the initial matches.

[Indeed, the rules for the preliminary rounds have not been announced yet,] Tai’a responded. [As for the regulations of the initial matches...]

It paused, and Yi Zhen lifted his gaze, ears twitching slightly. “There’s someone outside the training room.”

“The footsteps are very light, gait agile,” he discerned carefully, “but within the steady footing lies a subtle hint of restrained vigor, indicating that the person is also quite lightweight.”

[...The individual approaching is Airelynn Heavenheart Stone, also remembered as Ai Ling.]

After two months of intensive training, Yi Zhen’s five senses, bolstered by his inner strength, had undergone comprehensive enhancement. Within a radius of fifty steps, every rustle of leaves, drift of petals, human whisper, or chirp of bird song fell under his perception, clear as daylight, without missing a single detail.

By contemporary standards, achieving this level without relying on spiritual power might be astonishing, but Yi Zhen knew it was not enough—far from it.

“Ai Ling,” Yi Zhen said, somewhat surprised. “Why is she visiting me? Has her intensive training finished?”

Ai Ling had also registered for the Tournament of Champions. Although her abilities didn’t yet match those of Star Alliance University’s top students, fortunately, she had a formidable brother who, with just a word, managed to get her added to the exclusive list for their specialized training program. Unlike her usual hesitance around elite student groups, Ai Ling confidently entered the training grounds, undeterred by their scrutinizing gazes.

When confronted about her privileged entry, she would calmly respond, “Ah yes, I did use connections to join. So what? Is there a problem?” Her demeanor echoed Yi Zhen’s boldness.

The door rattled as someone knocked. The Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion, who was tearing into a scrumptious piece of raw beef, swiftly turned within its glass enclosure, alert.

This scorpion fiercely guarded its territory; Yi Zhen, as the handler immune to its venom, was considered a unique exception. However, others were not so fortunate. While Rong Hongxue no longer attempted daily surveillance on Yi Zhen, unsuspecting servants still occasionally trespassed. In the most severe incident, if Yi Zhen hadn’t noticed early, the scorpion’s venom would have dripped onto the head of a male servant from threads hanging from the ceiling.

“Be quiet.” Yi Zhen raised a cautionary finger to the Bone-Eroding Spirit Scorpion, signaling it to remain calm. He then draped the cloth cover over its enclosure before opening the door.

“Yi Zhen,” Ai Ling greeted him with a smile from outside, looking noticeably thinner but more spirited than before. “You’ve signed up for the Heroic Champion's Tournament, right?”

Yi Zhen thought to himself that these past few days were truly bizarre—why did everyone seem fixated on his registration for the competition?

“...Yes, but why are you back today? Has the training camp ended already?”

“Not yet,” Ai Ling replied. “There are still ten days left, but since the preliminary round rules were announced today, we have an offline analysis class this afternoon. The instructor has invited senior students who participated in previous competitions to share their experiences, encounters with opponents, and such... Additionally, there will be discussions about analyzing the environments of the participating planets and strategies for dealing with native species. Would you like to join us?”

As if by magic, she produced two tickets, smiling broadly. “Furthermore, Rainbow Alice, known as the Empire’s Dawn Star, is scheduled to appear tonight! Just for him, the auditorium applications nearly exploded; luckily, I managed to secure insider tickets.”

Ai Ling lowered her voice mysteriously. “Actually, I know it was my brother who invited him.”

“Rong Hongxue?” Yi Zhen smiled as well. “Is he that generous? It certainly doesn’t seem so to me.”

“So, are you coming or not?” Ai Ling asked. “I heard even the media are staking out there just to catch a glimpse of Rainbow Alice.”

Yi Zhen wiped his face, not particularly drawn by the legendary Dawn Star but intrigued by the prospect of intelligence analysis from Star Alliance University. “Sure, it’s this afternoon, right? Let me get ready; just a moment.”

With Ai Ling’s agreement, Yi Zhen went inside to wash and change clothes. As she stood near the table, curiosity led her to examine Yi Zhen’s personal training room, which had become shrouded in mystery among the servants.

It appeared quite ordinary. The Rong Clan had around seven or eight similar training rooms, suitable for beginners but lacking for mid-to-high level Mecha Pilots.

However, rather than resembling a Pilot’s training space, it seemed more akin to a Mechanic’s. Whether it was the thick stack of blueprints on the table, the heavy toolbox, the unknown half-finished parts, or the plain bow leaning against the edge of the table, none of these looked typical for a Pilot’s usual workspace.

Could Yi Zhen be planning to compete as a Mechanic instead? However, a Mechanic’s combat capabilities are far inferior to those of a Pilot.

While she pondered these thoughts, Yi Zhen emerged refreshed from the inner room. With his naturally handsome features and skin luminous like jade, he appeared even more striking, making it almost intimidating to look directly at him despite his simple attire.

“As long as I have a ticket, can I enter even if I’m not a student at your university?”

Ai Ling snapped back to reality and nonchalantly handed him one, “Of course! Without a ticket, even our own students wouldn’t be allowed in.”

“Great, let’s go then.”

Yi Zhen examined the metallic-looking ticket several times before they reached Star Alliance University’s entrance. Only there did he truly understand what a ‘massive crowd’ meant.

Apart from the main path for students and the floating vehicle lanes, every other area was packed with media personnel, fans, and onlookers, leaving no room to maneuver. Yi Zhen exclaimed, “Isn’t Rainbow Alice scheduled to arrive only tonight? Why is it this chaotic already?”

“I don’t know who leaked the information, but that’s how things escalated,” Ai Ling also seemed disheartened. “Let’s hurry inside; it’ll be quieter once we’re on campus.”

As Yi Zhen and Ai Ling emerged from the parking lot, groups of students laughed and walked towards the academic buildings, exuding a vibrant youthful energy. Yi Zhen took in the surroundings; Star Alliance University indeed boasted substantial resources. The campus was lush with verdant foliage, and beneath their feet lay uniformly pristine marble tiles, devoid of any hint of dust or grime.

Ai Ling’s photo brain suddenly beeped, and upon checking it, her expression changed dramatically. “Oh no, I missed the notification—why has our analysis class been unexpectedly moved up a timeslot? Good thing my friend saved us seats... Hurry up, let’s run!”

Transportation vehicles were prohibited within the campus grounds. Confused but without choice, Yi Zhen sprinted alongside Ai Ling as they raced like two wild dogs, drawing surprised looks from surrounding students. Weaving through twists and turns, they finally stopped at the entrance of an imposing building, where she scanned her iris and placed her handprint on the sensor.

“Quick, quick, eighteenth floor, eighteenth floor!”

The door opened, and Ai Ling dashed inside, headlong. Despite not having attended even one day of classes yet, Yi Zhen found himself already experiencing the frantic rush of being late for class.

The rings of light on the hover-lift illuminated swiftly, transporting them to the eighteenth floor in an instant. Upon arrival, Yi Zhen noticed that the corridor was completely empty, with all classroom doors tightly shut and not a sound audible from outside.

Breathless, Ai Ling tiptoed to peek inside and whispered, “What do we do? There’s still an instructor patrolling... Just barging in would be so embarrassing!”

Yi Zhen remained composed. “Where did your friend save seats for us?”

Ai Ling glanced at the photo she had received. “In the back row near the edge, close to the rear door. Should we sneak in quietly?”

“Hold your breath,” Yi Zhen instructed.

As he spoke, he gently pushed open the classroom’s rear door, creating a narrow gap just wide enough for one person to pass through without making a sound.

Unsure of his intentions but driven by blind trust, Ai Ling took a deep breath. Instantly, she felt hands on her shoulders as Yi Zhen said, “Bend down.”

They merged with the drifting mist—or was it black smoke? Regardless, they became intangible, formless, akin to leaves whirling swiftly through the wind. With astonishing speed, they glided past the instructor who turned to check, rows of students equipped with holographic devices, and even a large Orange Tabby, likely someone’s spiritual body, let out for fresh air in the aisle, before silently settling into their empty seats.

Yi Zhen materialized next to her like ink droplets coalescing in water.

The instructor, who was adjusting a student’s head-mounted display, stiffened. Within his psychic perception range, how could two individuals suddenly appear?

He abruptly turned around and saw Ai Ling, looking utterly bewildered, along with Yi Zhen examining their devices, causing him to momentarily freeze.

“Hey!” he whispered urgently, “Where did you two come from? I didn’t see you just now.”

With strides that covered four or five steps of an ordinary person’s pace, he virtually teleported in front of them, scrutinizing them with furrowed brows. The other two instructors also approached from the opposite side to assess the situation.

As soon as Ai Ling sat down, her heart continued pounding wildly. She glanced at Yi Zhen, then at the instructors, stammering, “W-we were just...”

Just what? Her mind was completely blank. Before she could finish her sentence, she shakily pulled out two tickets from her pocket and placed them on the table.

“...We were... w-were here for this. Please take a look, sir...”

Their behavior raised suspicions; the instructors wondered if these were also students trying to sneak in to see Rainbow Alice. Consequently, they picked up the tickets to examine them first. Upon seeing “Airelynn Heavenheart Stone” printed on them, the male instructor’s furrowed brow relaxed, and the two female instructors visibly eased as well.

“Oh, it’s you, Ai Ling,” one of the gentle and approachable female instructors smiled. “Why so late? Hurry inside. Is this your friend?”

“Ah... yes,” Ai Ling replied, cheeks flushing red. She had hoped to slip in quietly but instead caused more commotion. “Sorry for being late...”

Seeing that the instructors had moved away, Yi Zhen discreetly used inner strength to transmit his voice, “The teachers know you well.”

“...Because my brother donated this building.” Ai Ling glared at him, lowering her voice, “What exactly happened back there? What was that thing?!”

“Hush,” Yi Zhen raised a finger. “It’s a secret. Let’s connect to the lecture first.”

With  the《Illusory Body of Mo Luo》, infiltrating any location seemed feasible, albeit bringing along Ai Ling inevitably drew attention.

After donning their headsets, Yi Zhen felt as if he were entering a miniature Starnet, with his spiritual energy carrying him into a vast virtual environment. As his surroundings brightened, he found himself standing on a surface as pristinely white as an eggshell. Several instructors, leading separate groups, were already using holographic models to explain the native species of the competition zone’s planet to the students.

“Newly arrived students, quickly join your teams! Don’t delay the progress.”

Hearing the instructor’s words, some students in the front row unconsciously turned back to glance at the newcomers. Yi Zhen keenly spotted a familiar face amidst them.

A round face with equally round eyes, reminiscent of a cat.

Jin Qi’s eyes widened instantly. With a sense of urgency, she jerked her head around and stiffly stared at a menacing plant with a spasming gaping mouth right before her.

Ursula, wearing an anti-toxic mask, glanced at Jin Qi. “What’s wrong? Did you see someone?”

Jin Qi opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. The banquet that night felt like a nightmare, with Yi Zhen’s snake-like, both venomous and mesmerizing visage frequently flashing through her dreams, each time sending shivers down her spine.

If Yi Zhen had truly killed them that day, her feelings wouldn’t have been so conflicted. The problem was, he didn’t. After subjecting them to the agony of near-death through a great-master-level illusion, he released them back into the world... Both Jin Qi and her companions harbored fear and hatred towards Yi Zhen, but intertwined within these emotions were numerous other complexities.

“That...that guy!” she hissed through gritted teeth. “Ai Ling brought him along too!”

Ursula pondered briefly, her heart racing with fear. She wanted to turn back but managed to restrain herself. “What...what is he doing here? We haven’t bullied Ai Ling anymore!”

In fact, after that night, Ai Ling seemed somewhat more tolerable to Ursula...though she wouldn’t openly admit this. Instead, she grabbed Natalia’s attention, who was standing nearby lost in thought. “Hey, Natalia, did you hear that?! He’s here!”

The beautiful young girl turned impatiently, opening one eye. “Huh...? Who’s here, the Emperor of Azoth?”

Looking at her, Ursula abruptly replied, “Yi Zhen is here.”

Natalia jumped three feet high, accidentally knocking Qi Jiayou forward and sending him headfirst into the gaping maw of a dragon tooth flower. “He’s here?! Where, where?!”

Silence fell around them as half of Qi Jiayou’s body disappeared into the foul-smelling floral pouch. Unable to contain himself, he erupted with a frantic, chipmunk-like scream, frantically struggling to pull himself out using both arms and legs.

The instructor exclaimed, “...Forget about saving him, will you all just stand there like idiots?!”

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