Worldwide Class Change: Minimal Effort, Maximum Reward!-Chapter 13, Chen Feng, The Academy Strongest Student
The return trip felt very different from the journey into the forest.
When the group first entered Sector Twelve that morning, most of the students had been filled with nervous excitement. Their conversations had been loud, their steps uncertain, their eyes constantly scanning the trees for the first glimpse of monsters.
Now the atmosphere had changed.
Everyone walked more quietly.
Not because they were tired.
But because they had seen something.
The wilderness had shown them its true face.
A single Stoneback Bear had nearly caused chaos among them. If Zhang Wei had not been there... if someone had reacted a little slower... the outcome might have been very different.
Wang Hao kicked a small stone along the dirt path as they walked.
"...I thought hunting monsters would feel heroic."
Lin Yi glanced at him.
"And now?"
Wang Hao sighed.
"Now it just feels dangerous."
Lin Yi chuckled.
"That’s probably the more accurate description."
The tall steel walls of Jianghe City were already visible in the distance. From afar, the massive structure looked like a gray mountain stretching across the horizon.
Those walls were the reason humanity still existed.
Hundred years of rebuilding had turned cities into fortresses.
Outside the walls belonged to monsters.
Inside the walls belonged to people.
When the group finally reached the main gate checkpoint, the guards stationed there immediately straightened.
Most of them were experienced hunters or retired soldiers.
Their eyes swept over the students carefully.
Zhang Wei stepped forward and exchanged a few quiet words with the gate officer.
The officer nodded and waved them through.
"Training group returning from Sector Twelve," he announced to the guards.
"Clear them."
The heavy metal gate opened with a low mechanical rumble.
As the group walked inside, the familiar noise of the city returned instantly.
Voices.
Traffic.
Merchants shouting from market stalls.
For many of the students, the sound felt strangely comforting.
Wang Hao stretched his arms with exaggerated relief.
"Ahhh... civilization!"
Lin Yi smiled slightly.
"You say that like we were gone for a month."
"It felt like a month," Wang Hao replied seriously.
Behind them, several students were still discussing the Stoneback Bear.
"Did you see how big it was?"
"I thought we were finished!"
"And then Lin Yi just—"
The conversation stopped when Zhang Wei turned around.
His voice was calm but firm.
"What happened in the forest stays in the forest."
The students blinked.
Zhang Wei continued.
"You can report the training results to the academy. That’s normal."
His eyes briefly shifted toward Lin Yi.
"But exaggerating things won’t help anyone."
The meaning behind his words was clear.
Monster hunting was serious business.
Rumors and attention could create unnecessary problems.
The students nodded quickly.
"Yes, Instructor Zhang."
Zhang Wei gave a final nod. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"Good."
He looked toward the academy district down the street.
"Training ends here. Return to your dormitories and rest."
The group began to disperse.
Some students headed toward the academy gates.
Others rushed toward nearby restaurants.
Nearly everyone was talking about the day’s events.
Wang Hao walked beside Lin Yi again.
"...You realize people are going to talk anyway, right?"
Lin Yi shrugged.
"Probably."
"You killed a Stoneback Bear as an E-rank Laborer," Wang Hao said. "That’s not exactly something people forget."
Lin Yi smiled faintly, but Inside his mind, the system panel flickered quietly.
...
Host: Lin Yi
Level: 10
....
The growth speed was far beyond normal.
But Lin Yi understood something clearly.
He was still only level ten.
The wilderness contained monsters dozens of levels higher than that.
Getting arrogant now would be stupid.
As they approached the academy gate, Wang Hao suddenly stopped walking.
"...Wait."
Lin Yi looked at him.
"What?"
Wang Hao pointed ahead.
"Someone’s waiting."
Lin Yi followed his gaze.
Near the entrance of the academy stood a small group of students.
Among them was a tall young man wearing a dark combat uniform. His posture was straight, and a long sword rested casually across his back.
Several people stood slightly behind him, clearly treating him as the leader.
Wang Hao frowned.
"...That’s Chen Feng."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.
"Should I know that name?"
Wang Hao looked surprised.
"You really don’t?"
Lin Yi shook his head.
Wang Hao lowered his voice.
"He’s one of the strongest students in our year."
Lin Yi waited.
Wang Hao continued.
"S-rank class."
That explained the attention.
S-rank awakenings were extremely rare.
Most cities only produced one or two each year.
"His class is Stormblade Swordsman," Wang Hao added.
"Level fifteen already."
Lin Yi nodded slightly.
Not bad.
Chen Feng noticed them approaching.
More specifically...
His gaze settled directly on Lin Yi.
The other students gradually stopped talking as well.
The atmosphere became strangely quiet.
Chen Feng stepped forward.
His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"You’re Lin Yi."
"Yes."
Chen Feng studied him for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"I heard something interesting today."
Wang Hao muttered under his breath.
"...Here we go."
Chen Feng continued calmly.
"They said an E-rank Laborer killed a Stoneback Bear."
A few students nearby immediately turned their heads.
The rumor had clearly started spreading already.
Lin Yi didn’t look surprised.
"People say a lot of things."
Chen Feng’s lips curved slightly.
"True."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Chen Feng asked one simple question.
"Did you?"
Wang Hao held his breath, but Lin Yi met Chen Feng’s gaze calmly.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Yes."
The courtyard went completely silent.
Chen Feng looked at him for several seconds.
Then he laughed softly.
"Interesting."
He turned around and began walking away.
But before leaving, he said one final sentence.
"Try not to die before the academy tournament."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.
"A tournament?"
Wang Hao exhaled slowly.
"...Great."
Lin Yi glanced at him.
"What?"
Wang Hao rubbed his face again.
"You just caught the attention of the strongest guy in our year."
Lin Yi looked toward Chen Feng’s departing figure.
Then he smiled slightly.
"That sounds fun."
