165: Chapter 165 Physical Fitness Test

Qiao Shuwan suddenly felt a tightness in her chest; she couldn't quite describe the feeling.

She stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The night breeze blew in, cool and refreshing.

Outside the window, the night sky over the Holy City was hazy, with no stars to be seen.

She stood there for a long time.

Only one question kept swirling in her mind: "Wang Lin, what kind of person are you, really?"

Meanwhile, at the main gate of Holy City Academy.

Zhao Meng leaned against the gatepost, his face livid. He had been standing there for nearly two hours.

Since classes ended in the afternoon, he had been blocking the academy gate with a few of his lackeys, waiting for Wang Lin to return.

Zhao Meng had never been so humiliated before.

He had spent hours standing in the cold wind on the Rooftop, yet that person hadn't shown up.

If word of this got out, how would he ever hold his head high in his sophomore year?

So he had to find Wang Lin. He had to ask him in person and demand an explanation.

As for what kind of explanation he wanted, he hadn't decided yet.

A beating? A verbal lashing? Or making Wang Lin apologize in public?

Regardless, he had to see Wang Lin today.

However, two hours had passed, and it was pitch black outside.

The streetlights next to the academy gate had turned on, and fewer and fewer students were coming and going.

Occasionally, someone would pass by, see Zhao Meng and his group blocking the entrance, cast a few extra glances, and then whisper among themselves.

Zhao Meng couldn't hear what they were saying, but he knew it certainly wasn't anything complimentary.

"Brother Meng..." one of his lackeys approached and said cautiously, "It's almost nine o'clock. Maybe we should..."

"Shut up."

The lackey shrank back and retreated.

Another half hour passed. The academy gate began to close.

The iron gate slowly swung shut with a creaking sound, finally locking with a loud clang.

The elderly security guard poked his head out of the guard room, glanced at Zhao Meng, and shouted, "We're closing! If you're looking for someone, come back tomorrow!"

Zhao Meng stared at the closed gate, his face darker than the night itself.

One of the lackeys couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Meng, should I go in and ask around?"

Zhao Meng was silent for a few seconds before nodding. The lackey trotted into the academy and disappeared into the night.

The remaining few stood at the entrance, no one daring to speak.

Zhao Meng leaned against the gatepost, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep, harsh drag.

Smoke billowed from his nose and mouth, only to be scattered by the night breeze.

He rarely smoked, but today, he needed it.

About ten minutes later, the lackey came running back, out of breath.

"Brother Meng... I found out..." Zhao Meng looked at him. "Speak."

The lackey swallowed hard, his expression strange. "Wang Lin... didn't even come to school today."

Silence. A deathly silence. The cigarette in Zhao Meng's hand fell to the ground.

The corner of his mouth twitched, his face turning livid. "What did you say?"

The lackey was so scared he stepped back half a pace. "I... I asked several people, and they all said they didn't see Wang Lin today."

"Not in the classroom, not in the dormitory, not in the cafeteria. He didn't come to school at all today."

Zhao Meng didn't say a word; he slowly closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, then another.

Then... "Fuck!!!" A roar exploded into the night.

The elderly security guard in the guard room was startled, poked his head out to take a look, and then quickly pulled it back in.

Zhao Meng kicked the gatepost, the iron pillar emitting a dull, humming thud.

"I waited for him all night on the Rooftop, where was he?!" "I waited for him half the day at the gate today, where the hell was he?!"

Zhao Meng turned to face his lackeys, his eyes wide as saucers. "He didn't even come to school, the bastard?!"

The lackeys all took a step back in unison.

Zhao Meng paced in circles, like a caged beast, his chest heaving violently.

He felt like a fool. No, not like a fool—he was a fool.

The guy hadn't taken him seriously at all, hadn't given a second thought to their arranged fight, and hadn't even bothered to show up at school.

And what about him? He'd stood in the cold wind on the Rooftop all night, and stood at the school gate for hours, waiting like a dog.

"Brother Meng... calm down..." one of his lackeys mustered the courage to say.

"Calm down?!" Zhao Meng snapped his head around to glare at him. "How do you expect me to calm down?!"

The lackey shut his mouth. Zhao Meng paced a few more times before stopping abruptly and pulling out his phone.

"What's Wang Lin's phone number?" "I... I didn't get it..."

Zhao Meng nearly smashed his phone on the ground. He realized he didn't even have a way to contact Wang Lin to settle the score.

"Let's go." Zhao Meng shoved his phone into his pocket and strode toward the dormitory. His lackeys hurried to follow.

"Brother Meng, are we waiting tomorrow?" Wait? Wait for nothing.

The guy didn't take him seriously at all; waiting for a hundred years would be useless. But that didn't mean he was going to let this slide.

Zhao Meng wasn't someone who could be bullied so easily. Wang Lin... this wasn't over.

The next morning, Wang Lin strolled back to school. By the time he walked into the classroom, it was already the second period of the morning.

The moment he pushed the door open, every pair of eyes in the classroom fell upon him.

Wang Lin didn't pay any mind. He walked straight to the back row, placed his bag by his feet, and sat down.

The boy in front of him turned around again. "Why didn't you come yesterday?"

Wang Lin leaned back in his chair and shoved his hands into his pockets. "I didn't want to come, so I didn't. You got a problem with that?"

The boy's mouth twitched. "Zhao Meng waited for you at the gate all night."

"Oh." "That's your only reaction?"

Wang Lin glanced at him. "What else do you want?"

The boy opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, and turned back around.

The girl next to him leaned in and lowered her voice. "Wang Lin, be careful. Zhao Meng has put the word out that this isn't over."

Wang Lin sighed. He really had no interest in playing these childish games with Zhao Meng.

The Mist Forest next Wednesday—that was where he belonged.

As for Zhao Meng? He was just a hothouse flower who had never even seen what a Mist Beast looked like; he wasn't worth wasting any brain cells on.

During the first period of the afternoon, Class Teacher Zhou Mingyuan walked into the classroom.

Instead of starting the lecture as usual, he stood at the podium and scanned the entire class.

"Next Wednesday, the academy will be organizing a student trip to the outskirts of the Mist Forest for practical training."

The classroom fell silent for a moment before erupting into chaos.

"The Mist Forest? Are you serious?" "That's a place that actually has Mist Beasts!" "Has the academy lost its mind? We're only freshmen!"

Class Teacher Zhou Mingyuan raised his hand to signal for silence.

"This training is not mandatory, but those who sign up must pass a physical fitness test."

"The test will cover Speed, strength, endurance, reaction time, and a final combat simulation."

"Only those who pass all components will be eligible to participate."

His gaze swept, intentionally or otherwise, in Wang Lin's direction.

"The test will be held this Friday. Those who wish to participate should prepare accordingly."