Nine Star Burden - Chapter 177
Chapter 177: Meeting Gao Junwei Again
Gao Junwei has gone to Sanzhong and formed another team?
It would be easier to form a new team in Year One, but Gao Junwei was already in Year Three. Hence, it would obviously be more difficult to organize a new team. Besides, wasn’t he kicked out of his former team?
Jiang Xiao felt rather sad for that student because two years of training hard and building a strong team rapport had been wasted just like that.
Jiang Xiao seemed to be the culprit?
No, I can’t think of it that way. If Gao Junwei hadn’t brought it upon himself, Xia Yan and the rest wouldn’t have insisted on kicking him out of the team.
I’m not a saint, anyway. My abilities are limited too. I can’t help that poor student, Jiang Xiao thought.
However, if I help you defeat Gao Junwei, that student would probably be thrilled, right?
If Gao Junwei becomes the only weakness of the team, wouldn’t that be perfect?
While Jiang Xiao was pondering about it, Xia Yan began to feel sleepy due to the comfort in her feet.
To Jiang Xiao’s surprise, Xia Yan didn’t leave the lower bed and instead leaned forward and snatched his pillow from him. She packed up the bed and laid down.
She was extremely tall in the first place. Hence, there was no more room for Jiang Xiao after she lied down straight on her back.
“Are you sleeping here? I’ll go up, then.” Jiang Xiao tried to put down her leg, only to be stopped by her as she pressed him down. She then moved her body and eased herself into a comfortable position before resting her legs in his embrace. “Will you keep me warm until I fall asleep?”
“Uh…” Jiang Xiao pursed his lips and continued, “Alright, from now on, we’re even.”
“Do you really think you can pay me for teaching you carefully just by warming my feet once? What a wonderful dream,” Xia Yan retorted in displeasure.
“Fine, fine. Lower your volume and go to sleep. Don’t wake the others,” Jiang Xiao said as he frantically lowered his volume.
Xia Yan finally got what she wanted. She pulled the duvet over herself and said softly, “Hehe. Xiaopi, you’re such a kind and warm guy.”
She then picked up her mobile phone and took a photo, almost blinding Jiang Xiao with the camera flash.
“Hurry and go to bed. Cut it out,” Jiang Xiao said, feeling as if he were coaxing his daughter and putting her to bed.
However, if his daughter were as willful and recalcitrant as Xia Yan, he would have definitely slapped her…
Xia Yan humphed and gibed. “Do you really think I’m giving you a compliment? I just mean that you’re cut out to be a spare tire.”
Jiang Xiao answered, “Fine, Xia Yan. We’ll let time prove who the spare tire is.”
All of a sudden, Han Jiangxue said coldly from above, “You two, shut up and go to sleep.”
Jiang Xiao and Xia Yan looked at each other, not daring to answer her.
On the left, Li Weiyi murmured, “I think I heard the sounds of hearts shattering.”
“Uh…” Jiang Xiao scratched his head and continued, “You guys are all up? Shall we get up to have a game of poker?”
Han Jiangxue hit him with her pillow…
…
The following morning, everyone finally alighted from the rail. Although they went to sleep rather late, Xia Yan was extremely energetic and seemed to be in a pleasant mood.
On the other hand, Jiang Xiao had heavy eyebags, for he had spent the night sleeping while sitting upright. After hearing Xia Yan’s rhythmic breathing, he wished he could go up to the bed on top to get some sleep.
However, he didn’t bear to disturb her after seeing how well she was sleeping.
Well, he was mainly afraid that she would bother him after waking up. It would then be hard to cajole her into sleeping again.
Jiang Xiao’s hand was filled with a white ray of light as he pressed it against his eyes. At last, he decided to give himself a Blessing.
The first thing in the morning is to give myself a… Forget it, I won’t say it.
The leading teacher arranged for three teachers and twelve students to board the coach to Zhongcheng County.
Hai Tianqing didn’t go on this trip since he couldn’t escort or protect them during the test in the Arsenal.
At this moment, a large number of cameras had been installed in the Arsenal in Zhongcheng County. The students also had to wear recording devices when participating in the competition. Hence, that would allow the examiners to monitor and invigilate in real-time.
The footages were not meant solely for the examiners. There would also be broadcasts of the competition on some paid TV channels.
There were various industries derived from the Awakened profession. For example, there were professional hosts and commentators for the broadcast of the league on paid TV channels.
Due to the fact that the scenes contained violence and blood, the competition couldn’t be aired on public TV channels and it was also difficult for online platforms to obtain the right to air the scenes.
A broadcast was not available for the preliminary round, but the semi-finals would be broadcast.
It was because the preliminary round was considered to be the selection round where the top eight teams would move on to the semi-finals, during which six teams would be eliminated. The remaining two would be qualified to take part in the National High School League.
However, what Jiang Xiao didn’t understand was how they managed to broadcast the competition on Earth when it would be taking place in the Dimensional Space.
As the vehicle moved slowly, the Jiangbin High School team soon entered Zhongcheng County and settled in a designated hotel.
Due to the fact that they arrived rather early and managed to make it just in time for the on-site confirmation, the teacher led the team to their rooms and gave then half an hour to wash up before gathering downstairs again.
Jiang Xiao originally thought that there were not many participants in this event, but when he and his team arrived at the location for verification, he got a great shock.
It was extremely crowded. There were at least almost 100 teams there.
The hall of the hotel was almost full.
Are these all of Beijiang Province’s elites?
Jiang Xiao suddenly got a little excited because he had always found a little competition to be fun.
He was holding onto his personal particulars, which was given to him by the officials for registration purposes after he was enrolled.
He stared at the photo on the document and thought, This kid looks really energetic.
It was Jiang Xiao’s first time finding out that his serial number was GG184119551.
He didn’t care about the numbers, but the alphabets caught his attention. What does “GG” mean?
Is this a well wish?
“Look, over there,” Xia Yan said as she put an arm around his shoulder.
Jiang Xiao looked over, only to see a familiar figure belonging to Gao Junwei.
At this moment, the hall was already full and Jiang Xiao’s team was considered to be the ones who arrived later. The ones who arrived earlier had all gone to the stage to verify their identities and make the confirmations. On the right-hand side of the stage, three people were waiting.
There were two guys and one girl, one of whom was Gao Junwei.
Not long later, another boy walked down the stage after getting verified and reunited with them. The four of them then left together with their particulars.
However, when the four exited from the side door, Gao Junwei chanced upon Jiang Xiao and his team.
All of a sudden, his face grew sullen.
However, he didn’t do anything to show his agitation and simply left with his teammates in a jiffy.
After queuing up for a long time, Jiang Xiao’s team finally made their way up the stage, signed the documents, disclaimers, and several other agreements. Jiang Xiao had never read the terms clearly and he could never understand them anyway…
One of the crew members sporting a crew cut, said, “At 7 AM the day after tomorrow, your school teacher will lead you to the venue. You can bring your own weapons, but they have to go through inspection and checks conducted by the staff on site. In particular, because you guys have not graduated and so don’t have your Star Warrior identification cards, you cannot carry heavy weapons. We have a variety of weapons in our warehouse for you to choose from. Of course, if you need special types of weapons, please bring them up now and we will try to prepare them for you as soon as possible.”
Jiang Xiao scratched his head and looked at Han Jiangxue beside him.
Another female crew member looked at the information sheet before looking down and saying, “Han Jiangxue, I finally saw your name. I’ve been looking for you for the entire morning.”
“Huh? I’m here,” Han Jiangxue answered.
The man raised his head, looked at Han Jiangxue, and said, “There’s a rule specially prepared for you. Out of the 480 participants, you’re the only one who has a Spatial Star Technique.”
Han Jiangxue asked, “So?”
The man answered, “The superiors demand that you empty your Sky Smasher before you enter the training site in the Arsenal tomorrow. After the inspection is completed, you will be granted entry to the Arsenal. Besides, I also have to clarify that Sky Smasher is one of your Star Techniques, so you can use it in the Arsenal without restrictions. Don’t worry.”
Han Jiangxue nodded and said, “Got it.”
“I wish you all the best,” the man said as he stamped on the document and sent the team away.
As soon as the four left the stage, the man muttered under his breath, “The legendary one with 30 star slots. Oh my God, I’ve finally seen her in the flesh. It has been years since such a prodigy appeared in Beijiang Province…”
The man with the crew cut answered, “The real star student is the little buzz-cut boy. He’s nicknamed the best Medical Awakened in Jiangbin High School.”
The man with the center-parted hair asked, “Han Jiangxue was right there, and yet, you were looking at Jiang Xiaopi?”
The man with the crew cut said, “He’s my brother-in-law…”
The man with the center-parted hair asked, “Huh? You two are related?”
Staring at his peer like the latter was an aboriginal, the man answered, “Go look at his Weibo account. He has plenty of female fans who are older than him. Hence, the guys who follow him all call him ‘Brother-in-law’. However, he’s been getting a lot of middle-aged female fans lately. Some even call themselves Mom-fans.”
The center-parted hair man’s eyes glistened and he said, “I shall go and follow him and see if I can find a woman…”
