The grand hall was filled with students, all sitting in anticipation as they waited for Headmaster Jian to speak. However, instead of addressing them, he kept tapping the microphone, his expression growing more irritated with each passing second.
A few students in the back snickered, barely holding back their laughter. It was clear that someone had tampered with the mic, likely as a prank. Hua Rong sighed, already suspecting the usual culprits—this place was filled with troublemakers, after all.
After a few more failed attempts, a staff member rushed forward, handing the headmaster a working microphone. He tested it once, and when the static cleared, he finally spoke, his voice carrying across the room.
"So, my dear students, there's a reason why I called all of you 'troublemakers.'"
The room fell into silence, all eyes fixed on him. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"But it seems like you've finally figured out how this system works."
A few students exchanged glances, unsure whether this was a compliment or a warning.
The headmaster's gaze sharpened, scanning the hall with amusement. "That's why you are no longer my 'cute little troublemakers.'"
Before anyone could react, the massive screen behind him flickered to life, displaying a blank slate that pulsed with energy. The tension in the room changed instantly. The air felt heavy with anticipation as if something big was about to happen.
Then, his voice dropped into a more serious tone.
"Since you all have changed, I've decided that my way of disciplining you needs to change as well."
The murmurs started again, this time more cautious. The students knew him well enough—this was no small announcement.
He smiled, but it wasn't the kind of smile that put people at ease. It was the kind that made them uneasy.
"I've come up with a new competition." He paused for effect, then added, "Since the old one isn't working—thanks to a certain someone's motivational speech."
His eyes landed directly on Hua Rong.
Hua Rong stiffened. What?
She quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be interested in the ceiling while some students around her snickered.
Headmaster Jian continued, not bothering to hide his amusement. "Now, I've planned something special. Instead of sending you to compete at other schools, students from across the country will come here instead."
That caught everyone's attention.
"Not just from one school," he emphasized, "but from the top academies nationwide. The best of the best."
A ripple of whispers spread across the hall. This was unprecedented. Normally, their competitions were controlled, and limited to certain schools. But this? This was opening the gates to something much bigger.
"There will be eight competitors," he continued, "selected from the strongest candidates across the country. They are the best in their respective fields, the elite."
The weight of his words sank in. These weren't just ordinary students they would be facing. They were champions.
And then—he dropped the next bombshell.
"I will personally select students from this academy to go up against them."
Hua Rong's heart sank. Of course, he will.
The murmurs became louder, a mix of confusion and realization. If he was the one choosing, that meant the selection wouldn't be fair. He wouldn't pick the best students to represent them. He would choose those most likely to fail.
And then, he smiled.
"Here's the plot twist."
A sharp silence.
"The audience," he said, "will be chosen by the visiting competitors."
The hall erupted.
"That's unfair!" someone whispered harshly.
"They'll just pick people who support them!" another added.
Hua Rong's grip tightened on her seat. So that's how he's playing this. By giving control over the audience to the competitors, he was ensuring that the matches would be as humiliating as possible.
Headmaster Jian let the noise settle before continuing. "I hope you all play well."
Then, as if he had almost forgotten, he casually added, "Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the prize."
The tension in the room thickened.
He paused dramatically, scanning the hall, making sure every student was hanging on to his next words.
Then, with an easy smile, he delivered the final blow.
"Whoever wins against one of the competitors will earn the right to leave this school—along with an official certificate of completion. You can break free from this place."
The room froze.
For a moment, everything seemed to stop. No one spoke. No one even moved.
Hua Rong's breath caught in her throat. Breaking free!
A way out. A real, undeniable way out of this place.
She clenched her fists. Just by winning… I could leave.
The murmurs started again, but this time, they were filled with desperation and excitement. The students had spent so long trapped in this strict system, forced to follow the rules and endure whatever punishment the headmaster saw fit. Now, there was a way to escape.
But then, a cold realization settled in.
He was the one choosing the competitors.
Hua Rong narrowed her eyes, her mind racing. He wasn't going to pick the strongest among them. He was going to choose the weakest. The ones who had no chance of winning.
He was giving them false hope.
This wasn't about fairness. It wasn't about competition. It was about crushing them in the most humiliating way possible
As the announcement ended, Headmaster Jian and the other teachers exited the stage, their figures disappearing behind the grand hall doors. The heavy atmosphere lingered even after they were gone.
For some students, none of it mattered. They knew they would never be chosen, and even if they were, it wouldn't make a difference. Everyone understood that this wasn't a fair competition. It was a spectacle designed to humiliate the chosen players, to crush them in front of an audience picked by their opponents.
Hua Rong exhaled slowly. There was no chance of her being selected—not even the slightest. She was just another name in a long list of students the headmaster wanted to keep in line. He wouldn't waste a spot on someone like her when there were far richer, more prideful students to tear down.
With that thought, she turned on her heel, ready to leave.
But before she could take a step, a hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Tonight," Zinchen Liu said, his voice low, just for her to hear.
Hua Rong glanced at him. He didn't elaborate, didn't need to. She knew what he meant.
She gave a small nod.
Just as quickly as he had grabbed her, he let go, disappearing into the crowd.
From across the hall, Xu Lingwei watched. His gaze flickered between Hua Rong and Zinchen Liu, suspicion forming in his mind. He didn't know what they were talking about, and for a second, he considered approaching them.
But in the end, he let it go.