95: Chapter 95 Your Little Literary Scholar is Going to Martial Arts University?

Chapter 95: Your Xiao Wen Is Taking the Martial Arts University Exam?

Having Transmigration for several months, he had yet to step out of the safe zone barrier, and was full of curiosity about the outside world.

Moreover, thanks to the large-scale sweeping operations organized by the government every year before the Qingming Festival, the areas around the county town were arguably the safest at this time of year, so there was no need to worry excessively about safety.

Leaving the Hongyi Building, he took the special car provided by the Kindling Hall for A-level contracted members to the designated meeting point.

"To Yingbin Tower, the one on East Street," Li Wen said to the driver after getting into the car.

A low-key, luxurious, sleek black hovering limousine soon drove away from the main gate of Qingshi No. 3 Middle School.

At this moment, inside the lobby of Yingbin Tower on East Street in the county town, the atmosphere was subtle.

Dozens of Li family members had gathered here, preparing to collectively go to the ancestral land in the city's suburbs for ancestor worship after lunch.

Li Wen's parents had arrived early and were seated at a corner table.

Although their clothes were much more presentable than in the past, in this rather grandly decorated environment, they still carried a hint of imperceptible awkwardness.

The center of the lobby was undoubtedly the table of relatives, Li Fude's family, who were being fawned over.

Li Fude's family operated a medium-sized Materials trading company and was considered a prominent wealthy household among their relatives.

Everyone naturally showered them with flattery, and the conversation quickly focused on his son, Li Changjie, who was a senior at City No. 1 High School.

"Changjie will definitely pass the Martial Arts exam this year, right? I heard that City No. 1 High School's teaching resources are top-tier."

"That's right, I used to think Changjie's spirit was extraordinary. Breaking through to Martial Artist must be just around the corner, right? In the future, he'll at least be a promising talent for a key Martial Arts university!"

"Brother Fude, you're so blessed to have such a promising son!"

Li Fude and his wife smiled broadly, enjoying the envy of others.

Although Li Changjie himself hadn't arrived, the praise for him had already set the atmosphere.

Just then, an elder relative sitting next to Li Wen's parents seemed to remember something and turned to Li Wen's father: "Fourth Brother, I heard your Xiao Wen is also taking the college entrance exam this year? At ———— Third Middle School, right? How are his preparations going?"

Father Li, Li Hong, smiled politely and nodded: "Yes, he's taking it this year. The child works very hard, and we, as parents, can't help much."

Someone immediately chimed in, with a hint of inadvertent disdain in their tone: "Oh, Third Middle School ———— I heard Third Middle School hasn't been doing so well these past two years. Li Changjie is different, though; he's a top student at City No. 1 High School, with boundless prospects!"

"Fourth Brother, it's not that I'm talking down, but if your Xiao Wen can get into an ordinary Martial Arts academy, that would be a blessing. Don't put too much pressure on the child; he can't compare to a Genius like Changjie."

Li Wen's mother opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by a subtle glance from Father Li.

Although their status wasn't high, they had basic common sense and knew that no matter what they said to explain at this moment, no one would believe them, so they just let it be.

However, this deliberate flattery and condescension still made the couple feel a little uncomfortable.

Just then, a small commotion erupted at the hotel entrance.

A sleek, understated yet specially metallic-textured hovering car stopped at the hotel entrance. A miniature, intertwined flame emblem was faintly visible on the side of the car body — this was the external identifier of the Kindling Hall.

The car door opened, and Li Changjie, tall, dressed in high-end clothing, and with a slightly arrogant expression, stepped out of the passenger seat.

"It's Changjie!"

"Huo! A Kindling Hall car! Changjie can ride in a Kindling Hall car?!"

"I told you Changjie would make something of himself, even the Kindling Hall values him so much!"

"This child is truly a remarkable talent, a Dragon among men!"

Exclamations of admiration instantly enveloped Li Changjie as he walked into the lobby.

He enjoyed the attention, slightly raising his chin, nodding to his parents and relatives, his gaze sweeping over Li Wen's parents in the corner, with a hint of imperceptible superiority, then quickly retracting his gaze.

Just a few seconds after Li Changjie got out of the car, another hovering car, with a more composed and understated demeanor, silently pulled up behind the previous car.

This car also bore the Kindling Hall emblem, but its design was more distinguished and grand, with a longer body, more futuristic lines, a smaller ground clearance, and silently operating anti-gravity engines emitting a faint, imperceptible blue glow — this was clearly a higher-level exclusive vehicle.

Those familiar with the Kindling Hall system would immediately understand that the car Li Changjie was in was more like a standard official vehicle or logistics vehicle used by a branch hall, while the car behind it was a custom-made vehicle exclusive to high-level contracted members.

The rear car door automatically swung upwards, and Li Wen, dressed in ordinary casual sportswear, calmly stepped out.

His expression was calm and focused, as if he was still pondering a cultivation problem, completely oblivious to the curious glances cast his way due to the Kindling Hall vehicle.

Li Changjie looked back and happened to see the Kindling Hall's special car behind him, which was clearly more upscale and higher-grade than the one he was in.

A flash of astonishment and intense envy quickly crossed his eyes, but he quickly composed his expression, as if he hadn't seen it, and strode into the crowd.

Thus, a subtle scene unfolded.

Li Changjie, who had entered earlier, strode in with his head held high, surrounded by a large group of enthusiastic relatives, asking after him and showering him with endless praise.

And Li Wen, who entered just a few steps behind, was unnoticed by everyone except Li Yue, Li Wen's distant cousin, who sat at a table next to Li Wen's family and happened to vaguely see Li Wen and the incredibly cool car outside due to her angle.

Subconsciously, they treated him as a backdrop to Li Changjie's halo.

Li Wen paid no attention to this and walked directly to his parents' table.

His parents saw him, and their eyes instantly relaxed, filled with warm smiles, as they quietly made room for him.

"Brother Xiao Wen~" his cousin Li Yue, sitting at the next table, called out softly to him.

Li Yue was also in high school, but she was in her second year at the County No. 1 High School.

At this moment, her eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile, and she lowered her voice, asking mysteriously: "I heard that this year's third-year high school class at Third Middle School has a particularly awesome big shot, also named Li Wen? Could it be — you? That car you're in looks a bit familiar!"

She had vaguely glimpsed the emblem and class of the special car outside, connecting it to the recent rumors circulating at County No. 1 High School about "a Prodigy from Third Middle School being signed to an A-level contract by the Kindling Hall."

Originally, she had never associated this "Li Wen" with her cousin in front of her, but what she had just seen sparked this bold guess.

Li Wen had just taken a sip from the water glass his mother handed him, and a faint smile curved his lips at her words.

He winked mysteriously at Li Yue, neither admitting nor denying, but just put a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture and smiled: "Guess?"

Seeing his reaction, Li Yue's eyes brightened even more, and she was almost certain, excitedly covering her mouth, barely suppressing a scream.

Oh my god! The legendary Li Wen from Third Middle School, was it really her seemingly ordinary Brother Xiao Wen?!

A subtly discordant lunch thus began.

At the main table, toasts were exchanged, and the conversation revolved tightly around Li Changjie and his bright future, as well as Li Fude's family business.

Relatives at other tables also occasionally joined this enthusiastic "praise fest," elevating Li Changjie as the Li family's future star of hope.

In contrast, Li Wen's family's table was very quiet.

Li Wen quietly ate his meal, occasionally answering a few perfunctory questions from his parents, completely oblivious to the commotion around him.

After eating and drinking to their fill, everyone prepared to set off for the ancestral land in the city's suburbs.

As they crowded out of the hotel entrance, Li Changjie once again became the center of attention.

"Changjie, why don't you take your special car?"

"Exactly, let's bask in the glory of our Li family's Genius!"

"A Kindling Hall special car, safety is guaranteed!"

Amidst a chorus of compliments, Li Changjie feigned modesty and nodded, opening the car door for his parents to get in first, then taking his seat, which drew another round of admiration from the crowd. The vehicle slowly started.

"Everyone hurry up and follow Changjie's car!"

"Fourth Brother, how are you going?" At this moment, Li Jianbin, Li Yue's father and one of the few close relatives of Li Wen's family, asked.

He saw Li Wen's family of three still standing at the entrance, assuming they didn't have a car or were planning to take a taxi.

"It's Qingming Festival today, there are many people leaving the city, so it's hard to get a taxi. Why don't you squeeze in with us? There's still room for two in the back."

Li Jianbin's wife also chimed in: "That's right, Fourth Brother, Sister-in-law, squeeze in with the child, taking a taxi is too inconvenient."

Li Wen heard this and showed a gentle but composed smile: "Uncle Jianbin, Auntie, thank you for your kindness, but you really don't need to trouble yourselves."

As he spoke, he had already led his parents to the side of the hotel entrance, to the spot where he had been picked up earlier.

The noble black Kindling Hall A-level exclusive limousine, like a crouching lion, silently and smoothly glided to a stop in front of them again.

Under the bewildered gaze of Li Jianbin and his wife, as well as the other Li clan members who hadn't fully dispersed, the driver's side door silently opened.

A stern-faced middle-aged driver, dressed in a proper uniform, deftly stepped out.

He nodded with a respectful yet meticulous smile at Li Wen.

Then, under everyone's astonished, almost frozen gazes, he opened the spacious rear car door.

First, the heavy, bulletproof, soundproof car door, then the independent, wide airline seats with ventilation, heating, and massage functions.

He slightly bowed and made an impeccably standard "please enter the car" gesture: "Mr. Li, please."

Li Wen smiled at Li Jianbin and his wife again, nodded gently, then naturally helped his mother, and after his father carefully settled in, he elegantly bent down and got into the car himself.

The luxurious interior, illuminated by the light from the entrance, gleamed with a low-key yet cool luster.

"Thud"

The rear car door was respectfully closed by the driver, cutting off the view between the interior and the outside.

"Whir ————"

A low, powerful surge of energy emanated from the car's chassis, and the vehicle silently lifted off the ground, hovering steadily.

In an instant, the air in front of the hotel entrance seemed to freeze.

Li Jianbin stood with his mouth agape, pointing at the departing black luxury limousine, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

His wife was equally dumbfounded, almost dropping the bag she was about to pick up.

The expressions on the faces of the remaining Li clan members were even more varied and spectacular.

From incredulous bewilderment to extreme shock, then to a sense of absurd hilarity, and finally, a collective gasp of horror.

"Just now ———— that ———— that car ————?!"

"It's a Kindling Hall car, much moreadvanced than Li Changjie's."

"And it comes with a dedicated driver?!"

"Li Wen, he ———— what exactly is he?!"

"My heavens! Li Wen's family is ———— truly keeping a low profile?!"

Exclamations, discussions, and even slightly distorted voices rose and fell in a clamor, everyone staring at the direction where the black limousine had disappeared, their eyes almost popping out.

Under the immense impact of the contrast, Li Changjie's family and their special car, who had just been enjoying boundless glory, were long forgotten by everyone.

All the previous praises, all the flattery and condescension, now seemed incredibly absurd and laughable.

Inside the car, Li Wen calmly said to the driver in the front: "Follow the car in front, to the gathering point at the entrance of the ancestral land in the southern suburbs."

"Yes, Mr. Li," the driver calmly responded, and the vehicle smoothly accelerated, merging into the traffic.

Father Li and Mother Li sat on the incredibly comfortable leather seats, experiencing a ride quality that was supremely smooth, without the slightest vibration.

Looking at the driver's respectful demeanor, then at their son, whose expression was as calm as ever, as if he had just taken a taxi.

The lingering awkwardness on their faces had long vanished, replaced by a sense of reassurance, pride, and a hint of dreamlike happiness.

Meanwhile, Li Wen leaned back against the soft seat, his eyes half-closed.

The dramatic changes in his relatives' expressions at the hotel entrance flashed through his mind like a quick montage.

He felt no displeasure at all; instead, he found it somewhat — interesting.

A faint sense of pleasure, stemming from a successful display of quiet strength without deliberate showing off, flowed through his heart.

Compared to the troubles caused by showing off, this way of quietly making a fortune, only revealing one's true capabilities at crucial moments to shock everyone, seemed — not bad at all?

The vehicle sped silently, and the scenery along the road rapidly receded.

After some time.

The not-so-large motorcade of the Li clan slowly stopped at the somewhat desolate but solemn outskirts of the ancestral land.

As cars and hovering vehicles came to a stop one after another, people disembarked sequentially.

However, the air was filled with an unusual silence.

Everyone's gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, was focused on the silver-grey hovering limousine at the rear of the convoy, which stood out even among the many modern vehicles, with its sleek lines and understated luxury.

During this past period, rumors about Li Wen had already stirred up a storm within the Li clan.

A-level contract, Kindling Hall special car, the legendary Genius youth — these terms challenged many people's preconceived notions of Li Wen as "an honest student from an ordinary family."

Speculation, doubt, and disbelief had fermented in secret until this moment, when this exclusive vehicle, rarely seen on the streets of Qingshi City and symbolizing the treatment of top internal members of the Kindling Hall, truly and tangibly appeared before their eyes, like a silent yet powerful official seal, stamped upon those rumors.