"You... hello!" Su Wanwan, who was chatting with the two roommates who had accompanied her over, was inevitably flustered as a large figure suddenly stepped close to her.
"Junior, I think you're very pretty. Can you give me your WeChat?" Zhang Yun tried his best to maintain his poise.
"Ah, this..." Su Wanwan subconsciously glanced at Ning Chen.
Ning Chen looked completely indifferent.
"Sorry, Senior." Su Wanwan politely declined.
She had expected Zhang Yun to retreat in the face of difficulty just like other suitors.
"Give me a chance, Junior!"
Zhang Yun put his hands on his hips, revealing the solid muscles on his arms. "To be honest, Junior, with a personality as gentle as yours, you should find a strong boyfriend to protect you, otherwise you'll be harassed by all sorts of punks."
"Aren't you just a punk yourself..." Fang Xiaopang muttered nearby, but didn't dare to speak too loudly.
"Senior, Wanwan already has a boyfriend."
At this moment, Su Wanwan's roommate Xu Rongli couldn't watch any longer and pointed unceremoniously at Ning Chen. "That's him right there, his name is Ning Chen!"
"Junior, he's your boyfriend??"
Zhang Yun pointed at the scrawny Ning Chen with a look of astonishment.
Su Wanwan lowered her head, feeling a slight sense of disappointment at Ning Chen's apathy.
"Ning Chen, are you even a man?"
Another female classmate, Jiang Ying, glared at him and said, "Wanwan is being harassed, why aren't you reacting at all?"
"Why should I react?" Ning Chen felt quite puzzled.
"Because Wanwan is your girlfriend!" Jiang Ying scolded. "Not even protecting your own girlfriend, what kind of man are you?"
"Yingying, stop talking, he... he actually isn't..." Su Wanwan's voice was so soft that almost no one heard it.
"..." Ning Chen was completely speechless.
Why did everyone think Su Wanwan was his girlfriend?
Can't there be a bit of pure friendship between a man and a woman?
This world was truly sick!
As a veteran of the dating scene, Zhang Yun knew exactly what was going on the moment he saw this setup.
The two of them had most likely just gotten together and hadn't gone public yet.
"Junior Ning Chen, with your scrawny little frame, you even dare to enter the shot put competition. You've got some nerve!"
While mocking him, Zhang Yun reached out to shove Ning Chen, hoping to send him tumbling and make a fool of him.
Yet Ning Chen stood like an ancient tree with deep roots, letting that rough hand exert force on his shoulder without moving a single inch.
"You! How... how is that possible?"
Zhang Yun found that he couldn't budge Ning Chen at all, his face turning beet red.
"I don't believe it!"
Zhang Yun was a shot put athlete whose strength was several times that of his peers; how could he possibly fail to push a freshman?
Lowering his waist and putting his all into it, he pressed his entire palm firmly against Ning Chen's chest.
Suddenly, Ning Chen stepped aside!
Borne by his own momentum, Zhang Yun lurged forward a few steps. He might not have fallen otherwise, but the former played a dirty trick, flicking his finger to trip Zhang Yun with an invisible and colorless true qi.
"Ouch!"
With a loud thud, Zhang Yun landed face-first, taking a complete header.
"Look, isn't that Zhang Yun from the shot put club? What is he doing?"
Many people looked over, including several PE teachers.
Ning Chen flicked his finger, and with a sharp "Rip!", the crotch of Zhang Yun's pants tore open, exposing a pair of Sailor Moon-themed boxers.
"Pfft, hahahahaha!"
The surrounding students and teachers laughed uproariously.
Especially Fang Xiaopang and Zhang Dachun, who laughed the loudest.
"Damn it!"
Zhang Yun scrambled up, borrowed a jacket to tie around his waist, and glared at Ning Chen through gritted teeth. "Brat, you dared to undermine me!"
"Senior, it's only September, why are you already wishing everyone a Happy New Year?"
Ning Chen smiled faintly. "Also, Senior, you have quite a unique style. I never expected a six-foot-three big guy to fancy girls' things. Tsk tsk, rather interesting."
"Detestable..."
Subconsciously covering his backside, Zhang Yun's weathered face turned the color of an eggplant.
With his weird fetish exposed in broad daylight, he truly wished a crack would open in the ground for him to crawl into!
Especially when he saw Su Wanwan looking at him with a strange gaze, he wanted to die even more!
"Brat, you just wait for me..."
Zhang Yun wanted nothing more than to tear Ning Chen limb from limb.
Su Wanwan's two close friends, Xu Rongli and Jiang Ying, were also laughing until their stomachs hurt.
She, however, looked at Ning Chen with a very suspicious gaze.
Shortly after, the shot put competition began.
With it came a resurgence of Zhang Yun's self-confidence.
"Let me tell you guys, in this university, nobody can throw a shot put farther than me!"
Zhang Yun boasted arrogantly, patting his chest with his hand. "The Qing University shot put record is held by me, and nobody's broken it for three years."
He deliberately spoke in a very loud voice so that Su Wanwan's side could hear as well.
Yet Su Wanwan wasn't particularly interested.
After all, very few people liked shot put, and in terms of visual appeal, it fell far short of sprinting or basketball.
"Only I can break my own record!"
Just as Zhang Yun finished roaring these words.
Ning Chen took his position and casually tossed the shot put away.
The surrounding teachers and students saw only a dark blur flash before their eyes before the shot put landed with a heavy "Thud!" more than twenty meters away.
"Oh no!" Ning Chen thought to himself inwardly. He hadn't controlled his strength properly.
Chapter 31: Accidentally Breaking the National Record
"Holy crap! Did I see that right? He threw it that far?!"
"I was just about to say he doesn't even know how to do the glide technique..."
"This... this is over ten meters, no, I'm afraid it's twenty meters!"
"No, impossible, I must be dreaming... The world record is only a little over twenty meters."
An uproar broke out at the scene.
Even the judges were dumbfounded, staring blankly at Ning Chen with jaws dropped.
Seeing where the shot put landed, Zhang Yun let out a shriek of terror: "Holy shit!!"
Soon, the distance was measured out.
21.41 meters.
He had broken the national record.
The world record was 23.12 meters.
The shot put arena fell into dead silence.
A freshman breaking the national shot put record gave everyone an unreal feeling.
"Sigh, what a hassle," Ning Chen muttered inwardly, sighing to himself.
Not far behind him, Su Wanwan took the lead in applauding. "Wow, that's amazing!"
Xu Rongli and Jiang Ying were both dumbfounded, while Fang Xiaopang and Zhang Dachun stared at Ning Chen as if he were a monster.
"I don't believe it! I don't believe it! There must be something wrong with the ball!!"
Howling, Zhang Yun charged like a madman toward the shot put Ning Chen had thrown, but no matter how he inspected it, the ball was completely standard.
At that moment, he collapsed onto the ground, sitting heavily.
His beliefs had completely shattered.
Too lazy to crush him further, Ning Chen turned and walked back to the classroom.
He had considered using spells to erase the memories of the onlookers, but that would mean wasting spiritual energy... Better forget it.
News of the shot put competition spread quickly.
The vast majority of people refused to believe that a freshman could break the national record—were they kidding?
If it were the national football team, anything was possible. But this was shot put; if the proud national team couldn't even beat a college student, they might as well disband on the spot.
Li Xuanming also unmercifully expressed his mockery of Ning Chen.
"If this kid broke the national record, I'll eat all the shit in every toilet on campus, dammit!"
There was no video footage of the competition.
Ning Chen thought he could gloss the matter over.
Unexpectedly, a group of teachers soon marched over aggressively, with Department Head Liu Wei and Counselor Wang Chuan right in the middle of them.
"Which one is Ning Chen?"
The bald department head asked as soon as he arrived.
"Report to Director Liu, it's him, he's Ning Chen!"
Assuming they had come to cause trouble for Ning Chen, Li Xuanming immediately pointed at him and shouted, looking like he'd been pumped full of adrenaline.
The bald department head was astonished. This kid right here had beaten the national record by a full meter??
"Ning Chen, the counselor and the department head are here!"
Su Wanwan and Fang Xiaopang quickly reminded him.
Unwillingly, Ning Chen stood up. "Counselor Wang, Director Liu."
"The 21.41 meters just now—was that you who threw it?"
A stern-looking middle-aged man walked forward, hands behind his back, sizing Ning Chen up with a face full of suspicion.
"Yes." Knowing that so many eyes had witnessed it on the scene, Ning Chen knew he couldn't hide it.
"Can you tell me how you pulled that off?" the middle-aged man asked.
"Not really sure." Ning Chen spread his hands.
"Ning Chen, fix your attitude!"
Counselor Wang Chuan rebuked him with a flushed face. "This is Deputy Director Ma from the Municipal Sports Bureau. He's here to inspect the school today, so hurry up and tell the truth!"
"I don't know, that is the truth." Ning Chen blinked.
"..." Ma Hong was somewhat speechless and proposed letting Ning Chen throw it again.
Ning Chen had no desire to run around and refused on the spot.
"Ning Chen, what's wrong with you? Do whatever you're told, why so much nonsense!" Wang Chuan was displeased and scolded him.
"Then you go throw it, I'm lazy." Ning Chen simply sat back down in his original seat.
"You..." Wang Chuan was almost driven to fury.
In front of so many people, this kid actually refused to give him, the counselor, any face!
Ma Hong frowned deeply; he had never encountered such an arrogant student before.
An uproar rippled through Clinical Medicine Class 2, and even students from the neighboring class came over to watch the spectacle.
Li Xuanming immediately jumped out, pointing right at Ning Chen's nose and yelling, "Ning Chen, is that any way to talk to Counselor Wang?"
"How I talk to Counselor Wang is none of your damn business."
When Ning Chen spoke, he didn't even glance at him, which infuriated Li Xuanming to no end.
Just as he was about to retort, the appearance of an old and a young figure drew the attention of the entire crowd.
"Haha, Deputy Director Ma, trust you have been well since we last met."
Hearing a voice that sounded somewhat familiar, Ning Chen turned his head to look and saw Elder Wen, the former principal.
His granddaughter, Wen Qinglan, accompanied him as well.
"That's Senior Wen Qinglan from year four? She really is gorgeous!"
The freshmen present all lit up with excitement.
Today, Wen Qinglan wore a tight-fitting athletic outfit that thoroughly displayed her curvaceous figure. Paired with her delicate, cold, and striking face, it made it truly difficult for people to look away.
Fang Xiaopang and Zhang Dachun nearly had their eyeballs pop right out of their sockets.
"Elder Wen!"
"Former Principal!"
Department Head Liu Wei, Counselor Wang Chuan, and Deputy Director Ma Hong of the Sports Bureau hurried to greet Elder Wen with extremely respectful expressions.
Especially Ma Hong, whose attitude was utterly deferential.
Working in the Municipal Sports Bureau, he had access to many social resources and knew that "Principal of Qing University" was merely the most insignificant of Elder Wen's many titles.
Before Ma Hong could speak, Elder Wen smiled and said, "Deputy Director Ma, a word in private."
How could Ma Hong dare to disobey?
They walked off to the side.
"Former Principal, do you have any instructions?" Ma Hong asked.
"Ning Chen is not an ordinary college student; he's a Martial Artist." Elder Wen cut straight to the point.
"A Martial Artist?!" Ma Hong's pupils shrank to pinpricks.
He understood instantly.
"Elder Wen, I recall the Ancient Martial Arts Association having explicit regulations forbidding Martial Artists from participating in secular sports events. How is this..." Ma Hong asked again.
"This child Ning Chen is a bit special. I'll explain it to you later," Elder Wen brushed it off vaguely.
"Very well, Elder Wen, I understand." Ma Hong let out a sigh of relief.
If he was a Martial Artist, then it made sense.
The group known as Martial Artists was terrifying—calling them superhumans wouldn't even be an overstatement. Even Olympic champions were at the very bottom of the totem pole among them.
Over on their side, Wang Chuan and Liu Wei were still lecturing Ning Chen, telling him that now that the former principal had come over, he must cooperate later and do whatever was asked of him.
Ning Chen dug into his ear, acting as if they were nothing more than thin air.
"Ning Chen, you should just cooperate a little. Otherwise, I'm afraid the counselor and department head will make things difficult for you," Su Wanwan whispered by his side, a trace of anxiety in her voice.
She had heard of quite a few cases where schools made things hard for students.
If you didn't obey, a single graduation certificate could be withheld to stall half your life.
"It's fine."
Ning Chen looked completely unconcerned; he was just coasting through school anyway.
"Ning Chen, stand up right now!"
Department Head Liu Wei scolded him in a low voice. "The former principal and Deputy Director Ma are coming over!"
"Oh." Ning Chen agreed verbally, but his body didn't react at all.
"Are you fucking paralyzed?" Counselor Wang Chuan wished he could slap Ning Chen across the face with a heavy blow.
If a student was unruly and unmanageable, the department would undoubtedly question his competence, which would directly impact his future prospects!
At that thought, Wang Chuan lowered his voice and said, "Ning Chen, do you still want to graduate or not?"
Chapter 32: Ancient Martial Arts Association
"Whatever."
Ning Chen still looked completely indifferent.
"You..."
It was the first time Wang Chuan had ever run into such a prickly freshman, and he was so furious his face and neck turned red.
Right at that moment, Elder Wen and Ma Hong walked back.
Sweating profusely with anxiety, Wang Chuan and Liu Wei looked like they wanted to grab Ning Chen by opposite sides and haul him up out of his seat.
"This brat actually dares to oppose the counselor and the department head; he's simply tired of living," Li Xuanming thought gleefully.
Zhang Xinran furrowed her pretty brows. "Is he really not planning to graduate?"
"Ning Chen!"
At this moment, Elder Wen's dignified voice rang out, causing everyone to tense up.
"It's almost noon, let me treat you to a meal."
A hint of warmth laced Elder Wen's tone.
"?"
Question marks popped up over the heads of everyone watching.
The former principal was treating a freshman to a meal? Surely they hadn't misheard!
"Hey, Grandpa is calling you!"
Looking displeased, Wen Qinglan walked over to Ning Chen, though her gaze quickly darted over to size up Su Wanwan.
'Such a pretty girl, is she this guy's girlfriend?' she thought to herself.
Su Wanwan also hurriedly nudged Ning Chen's arm.
Only then did Ning Chen sluggishly reply, "Eat what, old man Wen?"
"..."
Liu Wei, Wang Chuan, and the others almost tumbled face-first onto the ground!
The students all dropped their jaws, thinking they must have heard wrong!
Ning Chen called the former principal an old man?
Had he lost his mind??
Just as Wen Qinglan was about to erupt, Elder Wen waved his hand. "The steamed perch at the third cafeteria is quite good, let's have that."
"Fine."
Ning Chen finally deigned to stand up, following Elder Wen and his granddaughter away.
Seeing this, Ma Hong also spoke up, "Director Liu, I have some matters back at the bureau, so I won't stay any longer."
Liu Wei and Wang Chuan hurried off to see him out, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded students.
They couldn't understand why Ning Chen had shown such disrespect to the former principal, yet the former principal was still treating him to lunch.
"The former principal actually turns out to be such an easygoing person!"
A deep shock reverberated through Li Xuanming's heart.
He immediately thought of a troublesome matter that had been bothering him lately; perhaps he could ask the former principal for help with it.
...
Third Cafeteria.
Elder Wen and Ning Chen sat down, while Wen Qinglan took charge of getting the food.
"Such fresh perch."
"Nom nom..."
Ning Chen muttered as he ate, his heart involuntarily reminiscing about the far more delicious spirit carp of the Lesser Southern Heaven Realm.
Aside from eating, there truly wasn't much else that could spark his interest nowadays.
Elder Wen smiled without rushing to pick up his chopsticks.
"My young friend, you possess the strength of External Force Great Accomplishment, and your physical constitution makes even Olympic champions pale in comparison. Why would you want to take part in the school sports meet?" he asked.
"What else could it be, showing off of course!" Wen Qinglan said with annoyance.
Ignoring her, Ning Chen replied, "I didn't want to participate either, but our class monitor and counselor were too annoying."
"I see."
Elder Wen let out a bitter laugh. "I'll have a word with your department head this afternoon; your situation is indeed rather special."
"Really? Then thanks, Elder Wen."
Ning Chen smiled as well, then pointed his chopsticks at the perch on Elder Wen's tray. "Are you going to eat that?"
"Huh?"
Elder Wen was stunned for a moment before pushing his tray toward Ning Chen. "You eat it, I'm not hungry. I mainly wanted to chat with you today."
"Great."
Without a shred of politeness, Ning Chen took it over and began to devour the food.
Two large perches plus some vegetables and rice vanished into his mouth as if swept away by a fierce wind.
"Hey! Were you a starving ghost in your past life? What is Grandpa going to eat if you ate it all?" Thoroughly speechless, Wen Qinglan slammed her hand on the table.
"It's fine, it's a blessing for a young person to have a good appetite."
Smiling, Elder Wen waved his hand and then asked, "My young friend, has anyone been tailing you lately?"
"Are you talking about people from the Duan Family?" Ning Chen said between bites.
"They came looking for you?" Elder Wen's brow sank.
"Uh, no..." Ning Chen shook his head, keeping the matter regarding Tu Tao, the head of the Ten Heroes, a secret.
"That shouldn't be."
Elder Wen frowned. "The Duan Family acts ruthlessly and repays every grievance; it shouldn't take them this long... In any case, my young friend must be careful recently; the Duan Family won't let you off easily."
"Got it, got it," Ning Chen replied perfunctorily.
"There is one more matter..."
Elder Wen spoke once more, a trace of solemnity on his face. "My young friend knows of the Ancient Martial Arts Association, right?"
"Never heard of it." Ning Chen shook his head honestly.
"..." Both grandfather and granddaughter were dumbfounded.
"You don't even know about the Martial Arts Association?" Wen Qinglan suspected Ning Chen was messing with her.
"Why on earth do I have to know?" Ning Chen was puzzled.
Wen Qinglan was speechless.
For a Martial Artist not to know about the Martial Arts Association was as absurd as an ordinary person not knowing about the police station.
Soon, she briefly introduced the most powerful organization in the Martial Arts world to Ning Chen.
"In short, Martial Artists are forbidden from participating in any secular competitions. This is a rule set down by the Martial Arts Association, which you can think of as the laws of the martial world."
At the end of her explanation, Wen Qinglan admonished him word by word.
"I just joined a school sports meeting, what business is that of theirs?" Ning Chen said with utter disdain.
"They will arrest you and lock you up in a prison specifically tailored for Martial Artists," Wen Qinglan said coldly.
"Heh." Ning Chen chuckled.
"You think I'm joking?" Wen Qinglan's pretty face was cold and severe as she said with absolute earnestness:
"To prevent Martial Artists from disrupting the lives of ordinary people, the laws of the Martial Arts Association are far stricter than those of ordinary people. You'd better behave yourself; if you end up locked away inside later, don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Qinglan, it's not that serious."
Elder Wen waved his hand. "A school sports meet isn't the Olympics; at most, it warrants a warning."
"Grandpa! Qing University is under your jurisdiction. In case this kid stirs up some mess, you'll be the one held accountable," Wen Qinglan said with dissatisfaction.