Chapter 9

C9 – New Hope

​”Your talent has truly brought me a wealth of surprises,” Wen Shi said, his eyes filled with admiration as he watched Lu Lixing. It had been ages since he’d laughed with such abandon. The joy he felt was reminiscent of the elation from his victorious days in battle—there was scarcely anything in the world that could make him happier than a triumph in war.

“As long as you’re pleased,” Lu Lixing replied, giving Wen Shi a peculiar look. Something seemed off. Wen Shi’s treatment of him was akin to that of a father to his son—bizarrely warm and out of character. This was not the Black Masked God he remembered.

Sensing the confusion in Lu Lixing’s eyes, Wen Shi let out a chuckle. “Do you find my behavior towards you odd? Not quite in line with how I usually am?”

Lu Lixing nodded candidly. The mystery of it all was unsettling, and he feared it would keep him awake at night if left unresolved.

With a sigh, Wen Shi spoke to Lu Lixing in a tone tinged with sentiment, “I’ve looked into your background. You’re an orphan from the slums, just as I was decades ago before I joined the military.”

Lu Lixing’s eyes widened in astonishment at Wen Shi’s revelation. He never imagined that the Black Masked God himself hailed from the slums!

If Wen Shi was being truthful, then it made sense why he had shown such kindness. Had Lu Lixing been in Wen Shi’s shoes, he too would feel a natural affinity for someone sharing his humble origins. With this realization, Lu Lixing’s wariness towards Wen Shi ebbed away, replaced by a budding sense of kinship.

“My origins are no secret—you can easily verify them. I have no reason to deceive you over such a triviality. Seeing another genius emerge from our slums fills me with contentment,” Wen Shi said earnestly. “I hope you’ll persist on your path with unwavering resolve.”

A genius with advanced Brain Domain development may not typically merit Wen Shi’s lofty expectations. However, a genius who not only possesses a high level of Brain Domain development but has also awakened the Talent Rune, and who comes from a civilian background—now that changes everything.

In the current state of the world, the lion’s share of resources is hoarded by the elite families and sects. Commoners, without the backing of these powerful entities, find it nearly impossible to rise above their station. Wen Shi, having held the post of director for over a decade, had witnessed far too many civilian geniuses forced to seek the patronage of these aristocratic houses due to a dearth of cultivation resources. It pained him deeply, yet he was powerless to alter this reality. Thus, he clung to the faint hope that someone from the ranks of the common folk would emerge to challenge the status quo. Although this hope was faint—so faint that Wen Shi was on the verge of abandoning it—fortune smiled when Lu Lixing entered the scene, reigniting his optimism.

Wen Shi’s watchful eyes missed little of the school’s happenings. He understood Yuwen Ba’s reasons for approaching Lu Lixing, and he was aware that there was no significant history between Lu Lixing and Zhang Tu—except for the involvement of Sha Xiufen, the female student. This connection convinced him that an inevitable clash between Lu Lixing and Zhang Tu was brewing.

One hailed from the echelons of nobility, the other from the depths of poverty—both exceptionally gifted and remarkable in their own right. Wen Shi was eager, almost impatient, to witness the clash of these two forces and the sparks that would surely result.

Should Lu Lixing triumph over Zhang Tu in this upcoming confrontation, Wen Shi would not hesitate to bestow upon him a windfall of opportunity.

Yet, such discussions were premature. Everything hinged on Lu Lixing’s future conduct. If Lu Lixing proved to be mediocre, unable to fend off Zhang Tu’s onslaught, it would simply confirm that he was not the individual Wen Shi had been waiting for.

He was not heartless, but neither did he indulge in squandering time. A person who could not even best Zhang Tu did not merit his attention, much less his investment of resources and time.

Harsh as it may be, such is the nature of reality.

Unbeknownst to Lu Lixing, in the brief time that had passed, Wen Shi had already pondered all these matters, silently appointing him as the potential lever to shift the might of the aristocracy in the future. With Wen Shi’s expectations and support weighing on him, Lu Lixing gave a solemn nod and vowed, “I will not disappoint you!”

He was never one to bow and scrape. If he were, he wouldn’t have dared to challenge the notoriously fearsome Yuwen Ba at the school gate.

“Very good,” Wen Shi said, patting Lu Lixing’s shoulder with satisfaction. “From now on, you’re welcome to train at my place every Sunday. I’ll grant you access to use any of the equipment there. Don’t worry about damaging anything—feel free to use it all. Now, it’s getting late, and you should head home.”

“Um…” Lu Lixing hesitated, scratching his head sheepishly. “About the delivery being late, could you please…”

Normally, a late delivery meant losing the delivery fee, but given his strong rapport with Wen Shi, surely Wen Shi wouldn’t lodge a complaint with Zha, would he?

Wen Shi chuckled at the concern. “Don’t worry, I won’t report you. In fact, I’ll give you a five-star rating!”

“Thank you, Director!” Lu Lixing’s eyes sparkled at the news. A five-star rating meant earning 150% of the delivery fee—a substantial windfall!

After Lu Lixing left, buoyant with joy, Wen Shi pulled out his phone and stared at a number he hadn’t dialed in ages. After a long silence, he mustered the courage to make the call.

The phone rang for what seemed an eternity before it was picked up, and a deep, resonant voice answered.

“It’s me.”

Just two simple words, but they were enough to bring tears to Wen Shi’s eyes.

“Captain, it’s Wen Shi,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

There was a lengthy pause before the reply came. “I’m not a captain anymore. Stop calling me that.”

Wen Shi inhaled deeply, trying to steady his voice. “Captain, I’ve discovered a civilian genius in the slums. He’s incredibly talented and has so much potential—”

“Enough,” the voice interrupted, firm and final. “I’ve told you before, I’ve given up. Don’t bring these matters up to me again.”

Having finished his piece, the man ended the call before Wen Shi could get a word in. When Wen Shi attempted to redial, he found himself blocked.

Staring at the all-too-familiar number on his screen, Wen Shi’s fists tightened, and through clenched teeth, he vowed, “Captain, this time, we will not face disappointment!”

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