33: Chapter 33 Register for the Competition?
"That's right! They didn't even really fight yesterday! I saw Goddess Su Linlin about to make a move, then she suddenly coughed up blood! I bet Lin Fan used some despicable trick!"
"Trash is trash! If he can't win, he uses dirty tricks! Brothers, the academy competition starts this week. We have to teach him a lesson and avenge Goddess Su Linlin!"
Lin Fan sat quietly in his seat.
He listened to the discussions of the students around him and their threats to find trouble with him during the competition.
The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile that no one noticed.
Come then, bring it on.
It was just as well.
He also wanted to seek some justice for the weak Lin Fan of the past.
Time passed slowly as one teacher after another entered the classroom to teach different courses.
But the students' whispers never stopped, and the topic always revolved around what happened yesterday.
There were quite a few fourth-year students in the academy, so naturally, they couldn't all fit into one classroom for lessons.
Therefore, the fourth year was divided into multiple classes.
It wasn't until all the morning classes were over that Lin Fan finally ran into Su Linlin.
After finishing four consecutive classes in the morning, the students were given some free time to rest and recover for the upcoming lessons.
Usually at this time...
Lin Fan would go to the registration desk at the library entrance for duty, where many students would come to pick up their library cards.
The academy also had specialized training grounds and meditation rooms for students who wanted to practice and accumulate mana without being disturbed.
However, these places were useless to Lin Fan, and he had never been to them even once.
"Competition registration ends on Wednesday. I might as well go register today to save myself from worrying about it later."
Lin Fan murmured to himself as he walked out of the classroom and joined the bustling crowd in the hallway.
His appearance immediately attracted the attention of many students.
Everyone cast strange looks at him and began to whisper among themselves.
Lin Fan only gave a faint glance before walking straight away.
Clearly, yesterday's events had spread throughout the entire academy and become the focus of everyone's heated discussion.
"It's just a few people talking about me; I don't care at all."
Lin Fan thought to himself.
Over the past four years, he had long since grown accustomed to being the subject of gossip, but unlike before...
This time, what he heard was no longer purely mockery.
After turning a few corners in the hallway...
Lin Fan stopped in front of a black door and raised his hand to knock.
"Come in."
An elderly woman's voice came from behind the door.
Lin Fan pushed the door open and entered.
It was a small office.
Tall bookshelves stood against the walls, and next to them was a large desk cluttered with various documents.
In the center of the office, a woman in her fifties or sixties sat on a simple chair before a small writing desk.
Just like the large desk...
The small desk was also piled with messy documents, leaving only a tiny space in the middle for her to write.
The woman looked up, her aged gaze falling on Lin Fan, and a flicker of surprise quickly crossed her pupils.
Then she regained her composure.
She recognized Lin Fan.
After all, in this academy, Lin Fan was considered a "celebrity."
Though this fame was really nothing to be proud of.
"Come here, child."
The woman beckoned to him.
Lin Fan nodded and walked to the desk, his hands hidden beneath his worn cloak.
"Are you here to register for the competition?"
The woman asked. Lin Fan nodded.
Even though she had anticipated it...
The moment she received the affirmative answer, the woman still froze for a second.
A hint of hesitation appeared on her face, as if she wanted to say something.
In the end, she only sighed, took out a registration form, and looked down to write Lin Fan's name and class.
"Be careful with everything, child. You don't have to prove anything to anyone; just don't get yourself hurt."
After filling in the information, the woman cautioned him.
Lin Fan smiled faintly.
Unlike others in the academy, this old woman was one of the few who didn't discriminate against him for being "trash."
Looking at her expression, she probably didn't know about what happened yesterday yet.
"Thank you for your concern. I'll be fine."
As Lin Fan spoke, he inconspicuously released a trace of mana.
Sensing this ripple of mana, the old woman's eyes suddenly widened.
"You finally broke through?"
She asked in shock. Lin Fan smiled and nodded.
A look of relief flashed in the old woman's eyes as she spoke.
"That's wonderful. Your parents would be very happy to know. I wish you success in the competition."
Lin Fan thanked her again and turned to walk out of the office.
As he stepped out, he encountered many other students who had also come to register for the competition.
These people sized him up with strange looks, but no one dared to voice a provocation.
Lin Fan didn't care either and walked forward on his own.
"That trash actually came to register. Who does he think he has a chance of winning against? Even some third-year students are stronger than him!"
"Maybe he thinks that because he promoted to a First-Order Mage, he can stand on equal footing with us. Although the Space Element is rare and powerful, can his speed in condensing Star Patterns compare to ours?"
"I heard his casting speed yesterday was ridiculously fast. What if he really has some skill?"
"That must have been luck! Even if he really has some ability, at most he's just an early-stage First-Order Mage. His mana intensity isn't even worth looking at!"
The discussions of his classmates drifted from behind him, but Lin Fan acted as if he hadn't heard them.
He was already impatient for the competition to begin.
So he could show this group of people what true strength looked like.
Walking back into the spacious hallway, Lin Fan bumped right into a familiar figure.
It was Su Linlin!
The moment he saw Su Linlin, a smile curled on Lin Fan's lips, and his pace faltered slightly.
Su Linlin was also taken aback when she saw him.
When her gaze met the smile on his face, her expression instantly became distorted, and her eyes filled with rage.
She wished she could rush up immediately...
And tear that eyesore of a smile right off his face.
"Hmph! Yesterday was just your good luck. You'd better pray we don't meet in the competition!"
Su Linlin snorted coldly and brushed past Lin Fan, her red mage robes and matching long hair fluttering behind her.
"Ah, I'm actually looking forward to facing you. After all, what happened yesterday isn't over yet."
Lin Fan said without looking back, continuing on his way.
Hearing this, Su Linlin's footsteps came to a sudden halt.
She turned around, her face as cold as frost, as the mana within her body surged faintly.
She almost couldn't resist making a move against him, but she forcibly suppressed the impulse.
She still clearly remembered...
The words her father had said to her yesterday after learning about the incident.
...
"A piece of trash stuck as a Mage Apprentice for four years actually dared to beat you and slap your sister. It's absolutely disgraceful!"
"I'm giving you a chance to reclaim your dignity. Don't force me to take action personally."
...