Bruce's Pov
The hallway was alive with footsteps, chatter, and the faint squeak of shoes against polished tiles. The five of us slowed down as we reached the class list posted on the bulletin board. Rows of names were neatly written under each class section. I scanned for mine and spotted it quickly.
Class 1-A.
"Looks like this is me," I said, tapping my name with a finger.
One by one, the others found theirs.
Zhang Weiren groaned when he realized he was in a different class.
Mei Yanyan puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms when she saw hers wasn't near mine either.
Guo Minghao gave me a mock salute, pretending like we'd be separated for years.
Lin Qiun only adjusted his glasses, but I could see a small frown.
But when Tao suddenly slapped my back, I glanced sideways.
"Oi, Bruce. Same class," Tao said, grinning ear to ear. His name was listed just under mine.
I let out a small laugh. "Guess I'll have someone keeping me on my toes, huh?"
The others muttered about how unfair it was, but they didn't linger long. High school was a fresh start for everyone, and they each had their own classrooms to find. We exchanged quick goodbyes and promises to meet up during lunch.
And just like that, the group split into different classes
We walked into Class 1-A together. The classroom was spacious compared to middle school, sunlight pouring through the wide windows near the back. Rows of desks stretched neatly, most already claimed by chattering students. The moment we stepped in, I felt several gazes land on me—some curious, some cautious. I ignored them, keeping my posture straight, steps confident.
Tao leaned in closer, whispering.
"They're staring again."
"Let them," I whispered back, a calm smile tugging at my lips. "If they've got energy to gossip, it means they don't have enough to train."
Tao snorted, trying not to laugh too loud. "You really say stuff like that with a straight face. No wonder people don't know how to deal with you."
We made our way toward the middle rows and claimed two empty desks side by side. Tao immediately sprawled out on his chair like he owned it, while I quietly set down my bag. My eyes flicked around the room—observing.
There were a couple of faces I recognized from the middle school building, but most were strangers. Some looked like they had trained before—postures straight, movements disciplined. Others looked like ordinary kids, nervous and fidgety.
I wasn't worried.
If anything, I was… excited.
This was a new stage, another step forward.
–
The classroom buzz dimmed the moment Qin Yue stepped inside.
She had that effect on people—poised, calm, untouchable in a way that made others straighten their backs without realizing it. But today, it wasn't just her that drew every eye.
Walking beside her was a young man I had already seen before at the party.
He looked older, taller than most here—broad shoulders under the neatly pressed uniform, posture upright like someone used to discipline.
His gait was steady, unhurried, yet there was power behind every step. The kind of balance you only got from martial arts training. His presence carried weight, the kind that silenced idle chatter without a word.
Qin Yue glanced around, her eyes landing on me. She gave me a small nod—her usual acknowledgement, calm but polite. I returned it without hesitation.
She then walked to the empty seat in front of me, sliding into place gracefully. But the man beside her didn't follow. Instead, he turned his steps toward me, his expression warm, almost disarming in contrast to his strong build.
He stopped right next to my desk and smiled.
"Bruce, right?" His voice was steady, deep but not loud.
"Yes," I replied, meeting his eyes. There was no hostility there, no hidden malice. Just… curiosity, maybe a test.
He extended a hand. "Han Zixuan. Final year. Your senior."
I stood and took it. His grip was firm, but not crushing, measured strength behind it. "Nice to meet you, Han Zixuan-senpai."
He chuckled lightly at the formality. "Senpai, huh? I'll take it."
Qin Yue chose that moment to glance back. Her voice, cool but carrying a rare hint of softness, cut through the silence. "Bruce, this is my fiancé."
For a second, I blinked. "Fiancé?"
She gave the faintest smile. "Yes. Surprising?"
I couldn't help but grin. "Already engaged at your age?"
Han Zixuan shook his head, amusement tugging at his lips. "Not exactly our choice. Our families have been close for generations. They decided the engagement long before we were born." His tone carried reluctance, but when his gaze slid to Qin Yue, there was a quiet warmth, something genuine. Despite the arrangement, it was obvious he cared for her—and she, in her way, accepted him.
I found myself smiling, shaking my head slightly. "That's… something else."
The silence between us stretched until Han Zixuan broke it with a direct question. "I wanted to talk about your fight with Feng."
My brows lifted slightly, but I stayed composed. "Oh?"
"It was impressive. His aggressive style was good, but your defense was rock solid and managed to Win" Han Zixuan leaned slightly forward, his eyes sharp now, assessing. "But tell me… why didn't you practice attacking? With skill like yours, that fight shouldn't have dragged on as long as it did."
His words struck like a needle. Not mocking, not cruel, but precise. A martial artist's observation.
I scratched my head, awkward smile tugging at my lips. "Well… my teacher hadn't exactly taught me how to attack yet. So I had to work with what I had. Which was defense."
Han Zixuan blinked, then laughed softly. Not mocking, just genuinely amused. "You're honest. I like that."
Qin Yue turned slightly in her seat, her cool eyes softening just a fraction. "Bruce is always straightforward."
Han Zixuan leaned back after our exchange, his calm smile never fading. He studied me for a moment longer before adding, "That last hit of yours… the one that ended the fight with Feng."
My chest tightened slightly. 'So he noticed.'
Zixuan's smirk grew faintly. "It was unexpected. Not many could have managed something like that."
He didn't say it outright, but I knew exactly what he was referring to.
My raw chi had flared out at the last moment, a burst I hadn't planned. Uncle had forbidden me not to use intent to draw out chi—not yet.
It was unstable, dangerous, and with the lotus seed only recently formed, I wasn't even capable of proper external manifestation but that fight happened before Uncle's caution… it could be seen by people. Both Qin Yue and Han Zixuan had seen it.
I could tell from the way her eyes had briefly sharpened, and now from the deliberate way he avoided calling it out. They knew.
Still, they weren't pushing me for answers. That was a relief.
I let out a slow breath, smiling lightly to mask my thoughts. "Guess I got lucky."
Han Zixuan chuckled, not contradicting me, not confirming anything. That alone told me he was being deliberate. Smart. He wasn't just strong—he was calculating.
I leaned back in my seat, keeping my expression calm. 'So they know about my chi. But they're keeping it quiet. That's good. For now, I'll keep it vague. No need to give away more than I should.'
The conversation shifted when Zixuan's eyes grew sharper again. His voice dropped just slightly, not so much secretive as personal. "Bruce, I have a lot I'd like to talk to you about. But…"
He paused, letting the weight of his words hang.
"But?" I asked, tilting my head.
"But if you can't reach the top five within six months, then it won't matter." His tone wasn't mocking, but serious—firm, like he was laying down a challenge.
The top five.
The words immediately set the classroom whispers into the background. I wasn't even hearing them anymore. My mind locked on to his statement.
"Top five, huh?" I repeated.
Zixuan nodded. "That's where real doors open. Where the competition changes. Only those who rank there get the chance to experience something different… something worth your effort."
Something different. He didn't explain further, but I could see it in his eyes—he wasn't joking. He knew things I didn't, things hidden behind the thin veil of the school's public ranking system.
"What happens in the top five?" I asked carefully.
His smirk returned, but it was sharper this time, almost taunting. "If you want to know, then earn it. Make it there yourself. Otherwise…" He shrugged lightly. "It's just wasted breath."
My pulse quickened. Not with anxiety, but with fire. 'So there's more. More beyond what I've seen so far. And only the strongest get to know it.'
Competition. Real competition.
I could almost feel the chains inside me rattling, like my Wild Chi itself responded to those words, eager to surge forward.
Han Zixuan leaned slightly closer, his presence heavy but not oppressive. "Six months. Train hard. If you want to stand in front of me again and talk about what lies beyond, then prove it by reaching the top."
I couldn't hold back the grin that stretched across my face. It wasn't arrogant—it was raw, honest excitement. "Fine. Six months. I'll see you at the top five."
For the first time, Zixuan's eyes lit up. Just a flicker, but it was there. He straightened, nodding with satisfaction.
"Good. That's the answer I wanted."
Qin Yue, who had been silent throughout, turned back slightly in her chair. Her eyes studied me, cool as ever, but I swore I saw the faintest curve at the corner of her lips. Approval, maybe.
Tao, on the other hand, had his jaw practically on the desk beside me. He elbowed me hard, whispering in disbelief, "Bro… are you insane? Top five?! Do you know who's in the top five right now?!"
I didn't answer him. My gaze was locked on Han Zixuan, on the weight of his words.
The top five wasn't just a number anymore. It wasn't just a rank. It was a gate. An opportunity. A promise.
And my fighting spirit was burning hotter than ever.
Inside, I clenched my fist under the desk. 'Six months. That's enough. I'll climb. No matter what it takes.'
I smiled to myself, eyes narrowing with determination. "Top five… huh? Then that's where I'm headed."
---The End---