Southland University. The Scholars' Hall, a four-story academic building.
University classes don’t have fixed classrooms. Inside this building, rows of classrooms host either lectures or students quietly studying. If you want to hold a class meeting, you naturally have to reserve a classroom in advance.
This particular classroom is located on the second floor of the Scholars' Hall.
"Ahem."
A dark-skinned male student wiped the blackboard twice and coughed into his hand.
He wore a white short-sleeved shirt and silver-rimmed glasses. He had arrived early to claim the classroom and wrote 'Class Meeting' on the blackboard to prevent self-study students from entering by mistake.
Tap.
Footsteps sounded at the door. Two or three female students hugged their books, tiptoed to peek into the classroom, then left a bit disappointed to keep searching for a study room.
After a while.
Four or five classmates from the class gradually entered the classroom.
Soon, more and more people arrived. The once empty classroom grew lively, the seats gradually filling with classmates of all kinds—some chatting about school gossip, others idly playing on their phones.
After three or four days since the start of term, some students had already grown familiar with each other.
Most of the more outgoing students would proactively introduce themselves to classmates, while even the less active ones knew their roommates and classmates thanks to the way dorms and classes were assigned.
"Did you hear? That Martial Arts Program student, Kevin Lin, is in our class."
"Wow, really? I even went to cheer for him at the Martial Arts Program entrance sparring match the other day. Kevin Lin is pretty good-looking."
Two girls’ eyes seemed to sparkle as they excitedly gossiped.
Behind them, three or four male students exchanged glances and shrugged, not commenting. One of the boys quietly asked, "Supposedly, there was a slight tremor around the Athletics Hall the afternoon before yesterday."
The other boys just shrugged and said nothing.
Clearly, they didn’t believe in any micro-earthquake, even though there were forum posts discussing it... After all, given Greenfield City’s geography, an earthquake was impossible.
After a while.
Vivian Xu and Monica Zhang entered the classroom one after the other.
Though the classroom was still noisy, things quieted down a little—Vivian Xu's beauty was simply too dazzling. Her light red, three-quarter sleeve dress and lightly made-up face made her look like a vibrant, radiant flower.
Even Monica Zhang seemed less noticeable by comparison.
With the front row already full, the two of them simply sat in the back.
"Your style is way too eye-catching." Monica Zhang covered her mouth with a laugh and tugged at Vivian Xu’s sleeve. "I don’t even need to look—you're definitely our class's recognized beauty queen."
"It’s really not as exaggerated as you say." Vivian Xu rolled her eyes at Monica.
She didn’t dare accept the title of class beauty.
That’s just something boys talk about. If you said that in the dorm, other girls would definitely be unhappy… Besides, the title 'class beauty' is so cliché, it’s basically an online joke now.
However,
Vivian Xu was actually quite interested in the title of campus beauty.
In the past year or two, many university girls had gained overnight fame by being dubbed campus beauties—some even became internet celebrities and stars.
Meanwhile, even more classmates kept arriving in the classroom.
Tap.
Tap.
Two steady footsteps sounded from outside. Andrew Han and Kevin Lin entered the now crowded classroom one after the other.
"Hello, Monica."
Andrew Han glanced around the room and walked straight to the last row where Monica Zhang and Vivian Xu sat, taking a seat across the aisle from Monica.
Vivian Xu’s outfit was quite bright and eye-catching.
He glanced at her, then at Monica Zhang. Monica wasn’t wearing a dress, but a pair of fitted jeans and a white T-shirt with a cartoon graphic on the chest. The shirt subtly accentuated her developing curves, giving her a delicate and lively vibe.
"A-Andrew..." Monica stammered.
Monica was stunned for two or three seconds. Only after Kevin Lin sat down next to Andrew Han did she touch her forehead—amused and exasperated, not sure what to say.
She wasn’t sure if she was startled or pleasantly surprised.
On the other side, Vivian Xu’s beautiful eyes flashed. Separated by Monica and Andrew, she greeted Kevin Lin, who smiled and nodded back.
"Ah, no wonder you dressed like this..." Monica blinked in confusion, then looked at Vivian Xu as if suddenly enlightened.
"Keep your voice down," Vivian Xu whispered quickly.
"Mm-hmm." Monica glanced at her roommate, then at Andrew Han, who sat upright, and simply looked up at the blackboard as the class monitor election was about to begin.
Beside them.
Andrew Han swiped his phone twice, a smile on his lips. Aunt Lin (May Lin) had just sent him a text, inviting him to visit.
"Back then, Aunt Lin helped me a lot."
"If it hadn’t been for those crucial Graywhite Aura flows, I wouldn’t have reached Third Rank or gotten into Southland University... And without Third Rank, whether my true level would have been noticed by my master is still uncertain."
Thinking about this, he replied to her.
It was already afternoon, and he still needed to practice the Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance later, so he decided to visit Aunt Lin tomorrow morning instead of rushing over today.
After just two or three messages, Andrew and May Lin settled on a time.
"Hmm."
"Tomorrow I’ll head out with Lily Lin… There’s been so much going on lately, I almost forgot about a senior I already know." He shook his head and scrolled through his WeChat contacts, finally finding Lily Lin’s number, which he hadn’t marked last time.
Lily Lin was May Lin’s daughter.
As for May Lin’s other son, Andrew Han hadn’t met him yet.
Soon, the class monitor election began… The dark-skinned boy who had reserved the classroom earlier competed against another eloquent boy who had just arrived.
"Who should we vote for?" Andrew Han hesitated.
"I think the dark classmate is pretty good. He helped move books to the dorms for both boys and girls the other day—he’s quite helpful. The other guy seems unrealistic, talking about villa trips for the whole class, way too opportunistic." Kevin Lin offered his opinion.
The dark classmate?
Andrew Han chuckled—he figured the boy didn’t even know he’d been given such a comical nickname.
"Alright, let’s vote for the dark classmate," he whispered.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Andrew Han spoke very softly, not wanting to say the nickname out loud.
"Okay, I’ll vote the same as you," Kevin Lin quickly replied with a smile.
After all, they were martial arts students—whoever became class monitor wouldn’t really be able to manage them anyway.
Vivian Xu, on the other hand, voted for the eloquent boy, then reasonably helped Monica Zhang make the same choice.
She simply felt that you should just vote for whoever you liked.
Vote for whoever catches your eye.
Soon, two or three enthusiastic classmates tallied the votes. The dark-skinned boy who had prepared the classroom in advance lost by more than ten votes and wasn’t elected.
He forced a smile and quietly sat in his seat.
Clearly, this class officer election depended mainly on everyone’s first impressions.
Last row.
Andrew Han leaned back in his chair, observing every classmate’s expression. His gaze finally settled on the dark-skinned boy’s profile—there was loneliness, embarrassment, unwillingness, and disappointment.
Crack, crack.
He flexed his wrist, bones cracking. Andrew Han understood—there is no such thing as fairness in this world.
It’s the same in class, in society, and in the martial arts world.
If he weren’t a peerless First Rank, if he didn’t possess formidable martial strength, would Carter Yan have sought reconciliation? Clearly not.
Suddenly.
By the window in the classroom aisle stood a young man holding books, dressed in a gray tracksuit. His broad shoulders made him look especially sturdy, and he smiled at Andrew Han from outside.
He seemed to be quietly waiting.
Kevin Lin observed in surprise and whispered, "Andrew, that’s Ethan Tang, a senior martial arts student who just started his fourth year. He’s already reached the Martial Artist realm and is the leader of our Southland University martial arts students."
"Ethan Tang?" Andrew Han raised his eyebrows.
He didn’t know him—maybe he was here for someone else.
"I actually think he’s here for you. The martial arts student ranking battle starts in three months. Lately, Ethan Tang has been leading other martial arts students in sparring." Kevin Lin spoke softly.
Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to hear him.
But Andrew Han’s hearing was sharp—he nodded to indicate he understood.
It wouldn’t look good to leave the class meeting midway, and besides, Ethan Tang hadn’t knocked or called him out.
"No wonder you’re Andrew Han," Kevin Lin thought to himself in awe.
If it were him, he’d be dying to go out and ask—even if Ethan Tang wasn’t looking for him, he wouldn’t dare keep Ethan Tang waiting… It wasn’t that he couldn’t, but that he didn’t dare.
Heaven help me!
That’s a Martial Artist!
Martial arts students are either current or former students, but anyone who reaches the Martial Artist realm as a current student must be exceptionally gifted.
A moment later.
Finally, the class meeting ended. Students slowly left the classroom, chatting about the upcoming military training. Ethan Tang strode into the classroom and stopped beside Andrew Han in the last row.
"Hello." Andrew Han stood up.
Ethan Tang smiled and said, "Hello, Andrew. I’m Ethan Tang, a senior martial arts student."
He really was here for Andrew?
A hint of doubt flashed in Andrew Han’s eyes. He frowned and asked, "Why didn’t you come in earlier?"
He felt puzzled. Every martial artist he’d met—be it his master, Louis Zheng, Tanya Li, or Carter Yan—looked down on ordinary people.
Like lions and tigers, roaming as they pleased.
The next moment.
Ethan Tang looked at Andrew Han in surprise and said matter-of-factly, "You were having a class meeting, so of course I waited outside. I couldn’t just barge in and interrupt."
Hearing this, Andrew Han smiled. "Thanks, and sorry to keep you waiting."
Ethan Tang looked relieved. "No problem, it was just a short wait… If you’re free now, could we chat for a bit?"
He was most worried Andrew Han would be too arrogant.
Because,
Arrogance is the privilege of the peerless! To be ‘peerless’ means to stand above all others, to have the right to look down on every martial arts prodigy.
He knew, or rather, nearly all martial arts students knew… Andrew Han had just entered the university and already faced Carter Yan head-on, holding his own. It was unbelievable. Even a Martial General shouldn’t be matched by a First Rank.
Peerless.
Andrew Han was undoubtedly peerless.
It was insane!
By yesterday, the news had already spread like wildfire.
Martial arts students who had reached the Martial Artist realm in the university were all talking about it, deeply shaken. Two even planned to test Andrew Han, though most simply wanted to get to know him.
They just couldn’t quite believe it.
Peerless talent is extremely rare. Even across dozens of universities and hundreds of top colleges in China, there’s only one current martial arts student with peerless talent.
No wonder everyone takes it so seriously.
Ethan Tang quickly weighed his thoughts and kept quiet, watching Andrew Han closely.
"No problem. What do you want to talk about?" Andrew Han nodded to Monica Zhang, then walked out of the classroom with Ethan Tang. "Let’s talk outside—let’s just get to know each other."
"Sure."
Ethan Tang quickly smiled.
But a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes. The Andrew Han who had fiercely rebuked Carter Yan and unleashed a storm-like technique was actually so easygoing—could it be his own good looks were that universally appealing?
Indeed.
He hadn’t witnessed the event himself, but martial arts students at the same school shared information. The freshmen who’d been present described it vividly, and the cracks left on the concrete ring made it easy to imagine what had happened—even without seeing it firsthand.
Soon, the two of them arrived at a secluded grove, sunlight streaming through the leaves, with birds chirping nearby.
Uh oh.
Ethan Tang’s face changed slightly. He swallowed nervously.
As a normal person, he couldn’t understand why Andrew Han seemed to have a strange fondness for him at first meeting—and why he’d chosen the school’s famous couple’s spot…the grove.
Gulp.
Ethan Tang gritted his teeth… Even if you’re peerless, I won’t back down!
Just as he was struggling with these thoughts…
Andrew Han casually plucked a green leaf, looked at Ethan Tang, and smiled. "I think I know why you’re here—you want to talk about the Martial Arts Student Ranking Battle in November, right?"