Chapter 435: Provocation!
Translator: ryuxenji Editor: H2dH2mr
At this time, in the accommodation area assigned to the Second Men’s Military Academy, a boy rushed into the living quarters of his regiment commander. This boy was Ah Li, who had been attracted by Luo Chao and Han Xuya, and who had also been dispatched by his regiment commander to scout for information.
“Regiment Commander, I’ve found it. The leader of the First Co-ed Military Academy 1 this time is Lin Xiao.” When he saw his regiment commander, Ah Li immediately reported the news he had gathered.
Speaking of his regiment commander … in their Second Men’s Military Academy, he was a famous figure. He was the tacitly acknowledged number one in their academy, the one who had successfully advanced to ace operator in his fifth year — Jiang Shaoyu. By all accounts, for his regiment commander to have advanced to ace operator at such an age was also outstanding, belonging to the ranks of the cream of the crop. Unfortunately, he was outshined by Qiao Ting of the First Men’s Military Academy by a head — who let the other manage to advance in his fourth year? That allowed Qiao Ting to recreate Ling Xiao’s record of advancing to ace operator level as a fourth-year cadet, making the people of the Federation call him the second Ling Xiao. In this way, Qiao Ting had completely stolen the thunder of his regiment commander 2 .
This time, Jiang Shaoyu had been willing to lead the representative team into battle partly because he wanted to take the chance to defeat Qiao Ting. Jiang Shaoyu wanted to use the truth to tell the other that, even if Qiao Ting had been lucky enough to advance to ace level in his fourth year, he would never be the number one of the military academies.
“Lin Xiao, what a familiar name.” Hearing this name, Jiang Shaoyu, who had been half-reclining on the sofa, sat up straight. He opened his communicator and began to search for information on Lin Xiao, and only afterwards did he say with a tone of realisation, “So it’s him. In the last tournament, he also joined the Mecha Grand Tournament. It’s unexpected that he would join again this time and become the team leader to boot.”
Jiang Shaoyu chuckled coldly. Lin Xiao was just like him; they were both sixth-year students. In the last tournament, when they had still been third-years, the First Co-ed Military Academy had made an exception for Lin Xiao due to his extraordinary mecha piloting talent, allowing him to represent the school in the tournament. Meanwhile, although Jiang Shaoyu’s piloting talent had been no weaker than the other’s, he had not earned the right to participate due to the intense competition in his military academy. He was still rather sore over the fact.
” Three years ago, he was already a special-class operator 3 . Now that these three years have passed, if his talent is truly as strong as they say, he should already be an ace operator …” Jiang Shaoyu may be jealous and resentful of Lin Xiao, but this did not affect his judgment. “It looks like this Lin Xiao will also be a formidable opponent in our way to the top this time. We must pay some special attention to him.”
“Noted, Regiment Commander. I will keep an eye on it,” replied Ah Li immediately. His mecha piloting skills were average, but he was very skilled in collecting intel. The regiment commander had deliberately wasted a member slot to bring him along, just so he could utilise this specialty of his. He naturally could not let his regiment commander down.
Jiang Shaoyu trusted in Ah Li’s abilities; thus, he put the matter of Lin Xiao to one side and then glanced meaningfully at Ah Li. Ah Li immediately picked up on what his regiment commander wanted and quickly reported what his regiment commander was most eager to know. “Those two girls from before … the strong and handsome one is called Han Xuya, a second-year Mecha Piloting student. The sweet and delicate one is called Luo Chao, a second-year Starship Navigation student.”
“Why are second-years being allowed to participate in the Mecha Grand Tournament now?” Jiang Shaoyu rubbed his jaw in confusion. Mind you, with the exception of truly outstanding students, those who earned the right to participate in the Mecha Grand Tournament were typically almost all students in their fourth year and above.
Ah Li had gathered his intel well — he immediately explained, “That Luo Chao is extremely outstanding. The competition she will be participating in is the Starship Navigation contest. As for Han Xuya, I heard that Luo Chao had personally sought out Lin Xiao to ask for a member slot for her …”
Ah Li thought about the gossip he had inadvertently overheard — it appeared that there was a lot of internal disagreement as well over the participation rights of these two girls. Even in casual conversation, the members of their academy had not forgotten to grumble about it.
“Ah Li, say, do you think Lin Xiao is also interested in that Luo Chao, which is why he did this?” A lewd smile appeared on Jiang Shaoyu’s lips. He had the feeling that Lin Xiao must definitely be like him in having an ulterior motive towards Luo Chao.
Ah Li thought about that delicate and beautiful face of Luo Chao’s which inspired care and affection, and he said somewhat uncertainly, “Perhaps.”
“Right, have you found out why they were at the registration area?” Jiang Shaoyu moved on to ask.
Ah Li said regretfully, “I couldn’t find out anything on that. The staff members of the registration hall are very tight-lipped. They wouldn’t tell me anything no matter what I tried.” Ah Li could not know that the staff at the registration hall were definitely not as professional as he imagined — the key reason why he did not succeed was that he was not a beautiful girl, so he did not have that instant-kill effect that Luo Chao had …
“Continue to observe their actions closely. If they go out, remember to notify me.” Jiang Shaoyu was not disappointed in these results. He gave the instruction for Ah Li to continue following the two before sending Ah Li away.
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The next day, which was also the final day before the Mecha Grand Tournament would begin, the marketplace around the tournament area entered its first peak in activity. The entire place was bustling and hectic — there were people everywhere one looked. Even a few cadets who would be participating in the tournament could not help but be curious and take some time out of their busy schedules to browse the market, planning to try and find a bauble or two.
Meanwhile, after Luo Lang and the rest were done registering that night, Luo Lang had gone with Qi Long and Han Jijyun to look for his sister at the First Co-ed Military Academy area and told the two girls where they were staying and their room numbers. Therefore, early this morning, Luo Chao and Han Xuya, who had long wanted to go browse the marketplace, had come to the living area of the First Men’s Military Academy, planning to seek Boss Lan and the other boys out to be their escorts 4 .
The arrival of the two pretty sisters in the First Men’s Military Academy area which was filled with only boys naturally caused a commotion. However, when the boys heard Han Xuya say that they were here to find Boss Lan, the ardour of the First Men’s Military Academy students was instantly extinguished. They did not have the guts or the confidence to try and steal Boss Lan’s women, unless they had strength at the level of Qiao Ting …
Implicated for no reason, Qiao Ting wanted to state that he had no interest at all in younger sisters — the one he liked was the Federation’s goddess of healing, Li Yinfei. As such, he definitely would not ever clash with Boss Lan over this.
Frankly, the shy little Luo Chao had not wanted to come find Boss Lan directly — she felt that this was way too stressful. However, Han Xuya believed that if Luo Chao continued to be shy like this, she definitely would not be able to break through to that thousand-year-old iceberg Boss Lan. For the sake of her sworn sister’s happiness, Han Xuya ultimately decided to ignore Luo Chao’s wishes and dragged Luo Chao by her little hand right up to the door of Boss Lan’s room.
“Xu … Xuya, are … are we really … going to knock on the door?” Luo Chao was already so frightened that she could not speak properly. Even though she liked Boss Lan, when faced with that cold face of Boss Lan’s, she still could not help being timid! Aaaaaah!
“Luo Chao, do you not want to become Boss Lan’s girlfriend? If you continue to hold back like this, Boss Lan will one day be snatched away by someone else,” said Han Xuya in frustration.
“Who will … snatch?” Han Xuya’s words made Luo Chao’s small face turn white. Helplessly, facing her fingers, she retorted weakly, “Boss Lan is attending the First Men’s Military Academy. There are no girls.”
Han Xuya scoffed and flicked her communicator open with a snapping sound. A virtual screen appeared on her communicator and, on the screen, a seductive and enchanting woman was displayed, so beautiful that it dazzled the senses. Luo Chao looked at the picture and said somewhat uncomprehendingly, “Xuya, why are you showing me this picture?”
“Li Yinfei, the Federation’s soul songstress, also the Federation’s goddess of healing. Last year, she performed at the First Men’s Military Academy, and she has also announced before that her future husband must be a king among men.” Han Xuya quirked an eyebrow at Luo Chao and said with a smirk, “You think Boss Lan cannot become a king in the future?”
Luo Chao’s lips trembled and her face paled even further, no longer sporting any trace of colour. Han Xuya felt rather sorry at the sight, but thinking about Luo Chao’s personality, if she did not force Luo Chao this time, Luo Chao definitely would not take the initiative to step forwards. For the sake of her good friend’s future happiness, she needed to harden her heart and give Luo Chao a good hard shove.
“If you still don’t take the initiative, by the time Boss Lan becomes a king in future, do you think you can still beat Li Yinfei? That’s a national goddess! According to my cousin brother, Boss Lan has a liking for Li Yinfei!” Han Xuya dealt another heavy blow, shattering that final bit of assurance Luo Chao was harbouring.
Although Luo Chao’s face was as white as paper, her initially unsteady gaze suddenly became steady. She was silent for several seconds, and then she finally made up her mind and said softly, “I … I won’t hold back anymore.”
Only then did Han Xuya close the virtual screen, satisfied. With a jerk of her chin, she motioned for Luo Chao to go knock on the door.
Right then, Luo Chao and Han Xuya did not know that while they had been talking outside the door, someone had coincidentally come to look for Ling Lan as well. When he was about to turn the corner into the corridor, he had heard the voices of the two girls before he had made the turn. He had instinctively shrunk back to hide behind the wall and in doing so had overheard their conversation.
“Rabbit likes Li Yinfei? How can that be?” Li Lanfeng’s face was a picture of disbelief as he tried to digest this piece of information he had just heard. He had spent so much time together with Ling Lan, but he had never heard Ling Lan even mention Li Yinfei’s name.
Who were these two girls? Luo Chao? Xuya? From their conversation, Li Lanfeng quickly deduced their identities. They should be Luo Lang’s sister, Luo Chao, and Han Jijyun’s younger cousin sister, Han Xuya. And when Han Xuya said that she had gotten this news from her cousin brother, she must have meant Han Jijyun. Could it be that the rabbit had told Han Jijyun about this?
At the thought, Li Lanfeng felt extremely lost and bitter. So he still could not compare to those little companions who had grown up alongside the rabbit — that’s why the rabbit would rather tell Han Jijyun and the rest but not him … Li Lanfeng could not help but split hairs 5 , his heart growing colder and colder, his mind turning dark and blank as he felt as if he was being abandoned by his rabbit …
“Ding dong, ding dong!” Ling Lan, who was currently practising her Qi exercises on the balcony, heard the doorbell ring. She walked into her room, pulled her uniform from its hangar and put it on, and only then did she walk to the door and open it.
Ling Lan was dressed in a sharp pressed white uniform — the moment she appeared before Luo Chao and Han Xuya, the two girls felt an invisible wave of pressure pressing down on them. Even the bold and audacious Han Xuya could not help but shudder, feeling her legs grow a little weak. She silently gulped, trying to give herself courage.
Luo Chao was in an even worse state. Her initially pale little face was now flushed a brilliant red and looked as if it would catch fire in the next moment. Han Xuya was both surprised and resigned at Luo Chao’s state. She was surprised that Luo Chao was not at all afraid of Ling Lan, but she was also resigned to see that as soon as Luo Chao saw Boss Lan, Luo Chao’s soul had been completely sucked away, leaving her only capable of blushing.