CHAPTER 4: BACK TO SCHOOL

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the bedroom.

Ye Feng was still deep in a blissful dream when a pair of slender, jade-like hands clamped onto his throat.

“Wake up! Big brother, get up!”

“All right, all right, I’m up!”

Under Ye Xueying’s threatening wake-up call, Ye Feng had no choice but to get out of bed.

Today was the start of the new school year.

Both Ye Feng and Ye Xueying had been admitted to Peng City Second Magic High School, and they were in the same grade.

With Xueying constantly rushing him, Ye Feng reluctantly dressed, washed up, and got ready for school. Unlike Xueying, who usually walked to school with her friends, Ye Feng preferred to avoid walking whenever possible—if he could take a cab, he’d definitely skip the effort.

As a result, Ye Feng arrived at school ahead of Xueying.

CLASS ASSIGNMENT

The first order of business was class placement.

Ever since awakening as a mage, Ye Feng had hardly trained at all.

During the placement test, Ye Feng’s result: One Star, Initial Level.

With a maximum of ten stars, most students started with three stars or higher.

Predictably, out of twelve classes, Ye Feng was placed in Class Four.

Although Class Four was relatively high-ranked, the number “four” carried an unlucky connotation, so it was naturally considered a weaker class.

In stark contrast, Xueying, with her Six-Star rating, was placed in the elite Class One.

THE FIRST LESSON

Ye Feng was assigned a seat at the back by the window.

Ah, the legendary “seat of kings.” Such a prime spot—it’d be a crime not to nap here.

While Ye Feng was catching some shut-eye, the homeroom teacher of Class Four began her lengthy speech.

The teacher, Sun Lanxue, was a young woman who appeared to have just joined the school. Judging by her expression, she hadn’t volunteered to take on this “problematic” class.

“I’m your homeroom teacher, Sun Lanxue. I’m an Intermediate Ice Mage.”

Dressed in a tailored teacher’s uniform, Sun Lanxue exuded both elegance and allure, making most of the adolescent boys in class develop a slight crush on her.

Of course, Ye Feng wasn’t among them.

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This guy was fast asleep—he hadn’t even glanced at the teacher, let alone listened to her.

“In two months, we’ll have midterm exams. I hope you’ll excel then, as it will grant you access to better resources and improve your chances of getting into a prestigious magic university,” Sun Lanxue droned on.

Suddenly, she noticed Ye Feng napping in the back row.

Well, well. Someone dared to sleep during the very first lesson. This couldn’t be tolerated!

Her face darkened as she walked up to Ye Feng. The entire class fell silent, with some students already silently mourning for him.

“Hey, you in the back. What’s your name?”

Ye Feng groggily opened his eyes and glanced at her. “My name’s Ye Feng. What’s up, teacher?”

“Ye Feng. If I’m not mistaken, you’re a One-Star Initial Level Mage, right? Your starting point might be low, but that’s no reason to give up on yourself.”

Sun Lanxue began lecturing him in a tone as persistent as a monk reciting scripture.

Ye Feng couldn’t stand it any longer and quickly admitted defeat, promising to study hard and work towards becoming an Intermediate Mage.

“Teacher, no matter how much you talk, he’s not going to change,” a cocky voice suddenly chimed in.

It was a boy sitting near Ye Feng.

“Back in middle school, Ye Feng was exactly like this. Nobody could get through to him.”

The speaker was Sun Hao, an old classmate of Ye Feng’s. Sun Hao wasn’t a bad guy, but his sharp tongue often got him into trouble—like now.

Hearing this, Sun Lanxue turned to Ye Feng with a stern expression, while Ye Feng discreetly flipped Sun Hao off under the desk.

Sun Hao just chuckled, deciding not to escalate further.

“Ye Feng,” Sun Lanxue said, “if you were in a less useful category, I might let it slide. But you’re a Fire Mage—your potential is immense. I don’t want to see you squander it. Here’s the deal: if you can reach Five Stars before the midterms, I’ll give you a magical artifact.”

“A magical artifact?!”

Ye Feng’s interest was instantly piqued.

Magical artifacts were akin to the treasures of cultivators. Ye Feng didn’t own a single one yet.

“That’s right,” Sun Lanxue confirmed. “And I always keep my word.”

Her expression was sincere, leaving no room for doubt.

Sun Lanxue, fresh out of university, understood better than anyone the value of Fire Mages. Typically, they were among the top students. It pained her to see someone with such potential throwing it all away.

With her lecture over, Sun Lanxue returned to teaching, and Ye Feng refrained from sleeping again.

BREAK TIME

As the bell rang, Ye Feng stretched lazily. He was about to nap when the boy in front of him turned around and grinned.

“Hey, buddy. Wanna hit the restroom together?”

“Count me in!” Ye Feng’s seatmate chimed in.

And so, Ye Feng made two new friends—friends who would become lifelong companions.

Their names were Li Mubai and Wan Tianle.

ON THE TRACK

“Ye Feng, check out that girl over there,” Li Mubai said, pointing at a tall, sweet-looking girl chatting with friends on the track.

The girl was the epitome of innocence and charm—a classic “first love” type.

“I see her. What about it?” Ye Feng replied nonchalantly.

“She’s my goddess, Nie Xinyi. I’ve had a crush on her since middle school. But alas, she’s in the elite class, and I’m just...” Li Mubai sighed, gazing forlornly at the sky.

Wan Tianle snorted. “So, you’re a simp?”

“No, no! I’m nothing like a simp. I never bother her—I just admire her from afar.”

“That’s even sadder than being a simp.”

“Ye Feng, you’re dead meat!”

While the three of them joked around, none of them noticed a pair of eyes watching from afar.

“Xueying, what are you looking at?” Nie Xinyi asked, puzzled.

Her friend, Ye Xueying, was staring at the boys, seemingly lost in thought.

“Nothing, nothing. Let’s head back to class. It’s getting chilly.”

Dragging Nie Xinyi back to the classroom, Xueying was secretly thrilled—her brother had finally made some friends!

However, Nie Xinyi had a different thought.

Could it be…?

Did her aloof best friend have a crush on one of those boys?

AFTER SCHOOL

Instead of heading straight home, Ye Feng made his way to a meeting spot arranged with the Sky Eagle Demon-Hunting Squad.

That’s right—they had another mission to tackle.