บท 97: Unexpected Surprise
To the surprise of many, Tang Ling had not been adorned with any accolades. In that span of time, she had been wholly engrossed in leveraging the military's resources to perfect her transformative mecha system. Between that and her rigorous training regimen, she hadn't produced any notable achievements and seemed indifferent to the prospect of awards. However, Mu Xue was brimming with excitement; she had emerged victorious in her first spar with Tang Ling, and her radiant presence on the stage spoke volumes of her triumph.
In the competitive landscape of the school, where the adage "two tigers cannot share one mountain" especially applied to the girls, it was clear that the battlefield belonged to Tang Ling and Mu Xue. Mu Xue, fiercely competitive, found her drive in a formidable adversary.
Yet, to Tang Ling's indifference, the small honors meant nothing. She was the GAD's princess, after all, her sights set on creating the ultimate mecha. Inspiration had struck her recently, but the path was riddled with challenges, particularly with the power and balance systems of her creation. Her mind was a whirl of mecha and Li Feng, to the exclusion of all else.
Mu Xue, who had initially sought to flaunt her victory, felt her efforts were in vain against an adversary who seemingly did not acknowledge her existence.
The student body was abuzz with anticipation for the next announcement, whispers of rumors spreading like wildfire. But instead of proceeding to the next item, Zhou Zhi announced a different award entirely—the Most Powerful Warrior! This title had been unclaimed for many cycles, last awarded to Zhou Zhi herself, the only female Alarong newcomer to ever receive such an honor. The announcement was met with a calm before a storm of murmurs. The Most Powerful Warrior was not a title bestowed by the school, but by the military trainers, and even Sarta had no claim to it. So, on what grounds did Li Feng deserve this?
It wasn't that Li Feng's performance had been lacking; indeed, it was on par with Huang Chaoyang and the others. Yet, he had kept a low profile, only to now be awarded this prestigious title.
Skepticism was natural among the students, and even the teachers harbored doubts, with only a few privy to the truth, including Zhou Zhi and Principal Barbara.
"Li Feng has demonstrated extraordinary ability and potential during military training, passing the five-star military test. Therefore, the Beijing Garrison Command has decided to award him the title of the Most Powerful Warrior, with a bonus of twenty academic credits!"
Li Feng himself was taken aback, unaware of the perks that came with the so-called five-star test, which seemed to be a reference to a surprise attack. Since then, he had been engrossed in his training, sparing little time for social interactions except for essential rest.
Accepting the award with a composed demeanor, Li Feng exhibited a sage-like presence, causing a stir among the audience. Zhou Zhi, with enthusiastic charm, handed him the trophy and they shook hands—a handshake that was perhaps a bit too long and firm, the true nature of which only they could comprehend.
"Li Feng, keep up the hard work, and feel free to reach out to your teachers if you encounter any problems," Zhou Zhi encouraged, exuding her popularity.
Li Feng was unresponsive to the overt attention. "With Zhou Teacher being so busy, I wouldn't dare to bother you unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Don't worry, no matter how busy, I'll make time for Li Feng. And there's nothing I fear more than not being troubled," she replied with a smile.
Li Feng, facing such a bold and charismatic woman, chose to feign deafness, knowing he was no match for her in a battle of words.
While Sarta and the other awardees looked on with interest, the crowd below could not discern the specifics of their exchange, assuming it to be mere encouragement from a teacher. Yet, Huang Chaoyang and his peers could faintly catch snippets of their conversation, which sounded surprisingly familiar. How could Li Feng know Teacher Zhou Zhi? This was yet another puzzle in the hearts of the onlookers.
As the award ceremony concluded amidst applause, Mu Xue's attention remained fixed on Tang Ling, who had not taken her eyes off Li Feng since he stepped onto the stage. Perhaps there was another angle to unsettle her.
"The second matter," Zhou Zhi continued, "as some of you might have heard from the seniors, is confirmed. Miss Angel will hold a campus concert as part of her Global Peace Tour's second stop in Beijing. The school welcomes this event, but I hope Alarong's students will show the decorum of soldiers and maintain order. The details will be communicated by your class teachers."
Her words were met with a tidal wave of cheers. The school had underestimated Angel's influence. It was common to be unaware of the NUP's chairperson, but not knowing Angel was unfathomable. This girl's allure was universal, her music revolutionary. Critics and fans alike had declared her a divine gift, and those who had met her claimed she was genuinely selfless. Angel donated a significant portion of her income to charitable causes, and half of her world tour proceeds went to peacekeeping organizations.
Whether one opposed war, was indifferent, or supported it, anyone rational who encountered Angel felt she truly desired peace for all. Her idealism might have seemed naive, but it was also deeply moving. It was a noble aspiration that, even if unattainable, could be understood and admired.
Her immense personal charm and groundbreaking music had cemented her status as a princess of the music world. It was no wonder then that the sudden rise of the battle-crazed Blade Warrior in the video charts had stirred up such a frenzy among Angel's fans, leading to a merry uproar.
As the military training concluded, many students' minds were still elsewhere, though Li Feng was not among them. After signing a contract with the official Yu Zhan forces, he had yet to fight a single battle. The contract stipulated provisions for special circumstances, and Li Feng had made a prior request before the training. Tonight's battle had been duly notified to the authorities, and after such a long absence, even he felt a twinge of embarrassment.
The Blade Warrior had been absent from combat for the duration of the two-month military training, to the dismay of his faction. Recently, the video charts had been dominated by Angel, with her fans clearly having the upper hand in the ongoing verbal sparring. But just as the Blade Warrior's supporters were on the verge of losing hope, an official notification arrived: tonight at seven o'clock sharp, the Blade Warrior would return to the fray.
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