While a fierce battle raged on the mountaintop, the students’ parents were also fighting.

The cause, naturally, was Huang Zhongfei’s remark:

’Fifth Middle School’s top students have all gathered together...’

The parents waiting outside the exam grounds had long since grown restless. This statement was like a spark falling into a pan of hot oil.

It was supposed to be an individual competition, but they had turned it into a team event. Wasn’t that against the rules?

Some called to file complaints.

Some questioned the exam proctors.

And others just started openly cursing.

Getting cursed at a little would normally be no big deal, but one of the parents from Fifth Middle School, not content with their advantage, decided to gloat:

"If you’re not strong enough, then train more. Don’t blame the rules!"

His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire. A few hot-tempered parents, no longer content with just trading insults, rushed forward and started throwing punches.

In the blink of an eye, the argument devolved into a full-blown brawl.

The surrounding staff rushed out to stop them. Seeing the situation escalating, the middle-aged proctor in mid-air had no choice but to make an announcement. "Attention, parents outside the exam grounds. Brawling in a public space is illegal. It will affect your children’s academic progression, including their eligibility for civil service exams after graduation."

As soon as he said this, everyone stopped in unison.

But the parents from Fifth Middle School remained smug, and the one with the smart mouth from before was still clamoring:

"The competition never forbade teaming up! If you lose, you should reflect on your own shortcomings. Don’t go around blaming everyone but yourselves!"

"Just wait until they run into Chen Che! He’ll crush them all!"

Yan Jun grunted. He couldn’t stand their ’the-ends-justify-the-means’ approach, but as a teacher, he couldn’t very well just start punching other parents.

"I’m afraid that might be difficult!"

Li Xiaoshuang sighed.

Hmm?

Yan Jun turned to look at him, his eyes filled with bewildered surprise.

Li Xiaoshuang shook his head. He unscrewed his thermos, took a large gulp of water, and only then said slowly, "In a one-on-one fight, I’m certain Chen Che wouldn’t lose. But in a situation like this, outnumbered... it’s hard to say."

"Huh?"

Seeing that Li Xiaoshuang wasn’t joking, Yan Jun was stunned for a moment before saying resentfully, "If he gets eliminated like this, it would be far too unjust!"

’His own students’ chances of advancing were already low.’

’But Chen Che is different.’

’Many teachers think he can qualify with ease, maybe even contend for a spot in the provincials. For him to fall here in the city-level competition would be a terrible shame.’

"Hmm?"

Just as the crowd was murmuring, a flash of light appeared in the waiting area, and a student who was as round as a ball walked out, looking furious.

"Qiu Hu?"

The teachers from Fifth Middle School recognized him. They cried out in surprise and immediately rushed over. "What are you doing out here?"

The other parents also looked over, stunned.

’Didn’t all their top students team up? How was one of them eliminated so easily?’

"I was defeated..."

"By who?"

"Chen Che!"

"Chen Che? Chen Che from First Middle School?"

WHOOSH!

Yan Jun, who had been looking utterly dejected just a moment ago, suddenly snapped his gaze toward Li Xiaoshuang.

Before anyone could react, another student walked out dejectedly, his school uniform jacket tied around his waist.

"You’re out too?" someone quickly asked.

The student glanced at Qiu Hu and sighed. "I was knocked out by Chen Che..."

But he immediately lifted his chin, saying with confidence, "Everyone else is ganging up on him. He’s only one guy. No matter how strong he is, he can’t fend off that many people at once! He’ll be eliminated in three minutes, tops!"

"Good!"

The teachers and parents from Fifth Middle School couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The words were barely out of his mouth when four more students emerged, looking miserable. When pressed by the crowd, one of them lamented:

"W-we ganged up on Chen Che, but we were no match for him at all. We were eliminated before we even knew what was happening... There’s just no beating him!"

"That many people ganged up on one person and they still weren’t a match?"

Everyone outside the exam grounds was dumbfounded. "How... how is that possible?"

In that moment, the faces of the previously smug parents from Fifth Middle School turned deathly pale.

Yan Jun froze for a second, then turned and snapped:

"Old Li, you’re a real piece of work! We’re old colleagues, and you were still being all secretive about Chen Che’s strength..." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I really didn’t know this time..."

Li Xiaoshuang sounded somewhat wronged.

But inwardly, he let out a long sigh of relief. ’Having a student like this really makes me look good!’

...

At that moment, the mountaintop fell silent once more.

It was as if even the mountain wind had ceased. The entire summit was utterly still, with only the soft patter of drizzling rain.

No one had anticipated this outcome.

A moment ago, the students from Fifth Middle School had been impossibly arrogant.

Now, they looked just as pathetic.

Seeing Chen Che’s gaze fall upon them, the remaining three turned tail and ran. The gap in strength was simply too vast. They couldn’t win. They stood no chance at all.

KRAK!

Just as they were fleeing down the mountain, a beam of Sword Qi suddenly descended.

The Sword Qi struck the ground, carving a long gash that blocked their path.

At the same time, Chen Che’s indifferent voice drifted over from behind them:

"Did I say you could leave?"

One of the students turned back, his expression grim. "The summit is yours now. Can’t you just let us admit defeat..."

"Come as you please, leave as you please? It’s not that easy." Amidst their darkening expressions, Chen Che let out a soft chuckle. "The three of you will guard the halfway point. From now on, you are not to let anyone pass."

They exchanged a look, instantly understanding. Chen Che intended to use them to block the other students.

The students who had been driven down the mountain now looked at Chen Che with pleading eyes.

Chen Che knew what they were hoping for, but he paid them no mind. ’They didn’t resist earlier, and now they want to stay? It’s not that easy.’ Only when his gaze swept over a student from Class Three did it pause.

"You can stay."

’He was one of Yan Jun’s students.’

’If a student qualifies in the city-level competition, their teacher gets a bonus.’

’Yan Jun has been good to me. I don’t mind doing him an easy favor like this.’

Seeing this, the remaining students couldn’t help but sigh, knowing that no matter who occupied the summit, the fact that they had been driven off would not change.

"Old Chen, you’re incredible!"

Lin Yi ran over excitedly. "We’ve done it! We’ve held the mountain!"

But Chen Che didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on a corner of the summit.

"Xiao Yang, you’ve watched long enough. It’s time to come out. What do you say? Do you think you can escape faster than my sword can fly?"

The shadowed corner remained quiet for a moment before a sigh emerged from the darkness.

To Lin Yi’s astonishment, Xiao Yang emerged from the tall grass, looking utterly defeated. He had snuck onto the mountain the moment Chen Che confronted the students from Fifth Middle School, intending to swoop in and clean up after both sides wore each other out. He never expected to witness Chen Che single-handedly dominate the entire field.

Moreover, Chen Che was in far better condition than he’d anticipated and had discovered his hiding spot with ease.

Just as Xiao Yang was wondering what Chen Che would do to him, he suddenly heard him speak:

"I’ll give you two choices. You can either be eliminated by me right now, or you can stay here, guard the mountain with me, and wait to qualify."

"Qualify, of course!"

Xiao Yang answered without a moment’s hesitation. "I’m willing to stay and guard the mountain!"

"In that case, you can stay."

Chen Che nodded slowly.

「In mid-air.」

"This student’s methods are impressive. Brutal yet subtle. He eliminated half, spared half, and even press-ganged the others into guarding the mountain for him..."

The middle-aged proctor was marveling at this when he suddenly saw Li Tingyu, who was beside him, slowly get to her feet.

"Senior, you’re not going to watch anymore?"

"I’ve seen enough."

Li Tingyu nodded slightly.

She hadn’t expected this outcome, either.

Although time wasn’t up, in her eyes, the result had been decided the moment Chen Che took the summit. He was using the students from Fifth Middle School as gatekeepers to block the majority, and had also roped in a couple of powerful students to help him. He could now hold the mountaintop with ease.

’No matter what, his qualification is now guaranteed.’

’I never thought my little brother would run into such an interesting student.’

At this thought, she gave Chen Che one last, deep look.

...

"Hmm?"

「At the same time.」

Chen Che suddenly sensed something and glanced thoughtfully at the sky.

But he saw that Li Tingyu was already gone.

"Old Chen, what are you looking at?" Lin Yi asked.

"Nothing."

Chen Che slowly shook his head.