Volume One: The Awakening of the Dragon Soul Chapter 38: Club Recruitment Week

"Help me..."
Someone called out in the darkness.
"Who's calling for help?"
"Help me..." the person called again.
"Who are you? Where are you?"
"Help me... I'm right in front of you." The voice faded away.
"Wait!"
Mo Xing suddenly saw a flash of light; the entire space turned grayish-white, and ahead stood a person with their back to him.
"You're too late," said the person, the same voice that had been calling for help.
"Who are you?" Mo Xing asked.
"You don't even recognize me?" the person retorted, a hint of sarcasm in the voice.
"Sorry, I really can't tell by voice alone. Could you turn around so I can see your face?" Mo Xing asked.
"No need." The person sneered.
"Why not?" Mo Xing pressed.
"You have those friends already. From now on, we are enemies." The person spoke indifferently.
"What do you mean by that? Who are you, really?" Mo Xing ran toward the person.
"Mo Xing."
The person suddenly called his name. At the same time, Mo Xing saw his appearance—those familiar eyes and the carefully styled hair—it was—
"Yi... Yi Zai!"
"We'll meet again soon." Yi Zai smiled, then dissolved into black mist and vanished into the air.
"Yi Zai!"
Mo Xing sat up abruptly, opening his eyes to the morning sunlight, breathing heavily, drenched in cold sweat. Outside, sparrows chirped.
"Had a nightmare?"
Mo Xing turned his head and saw that Zhang Zhihao, the great master on the bed nearby, was also awake.
"Yeah, Master, you're awake too?" Mo Xing glanced at the clock on the wall—it was five thirty in the morning.
"Yes, just thinking about things." Zhang Zhihao stared at the ceiling, the blanket pulled up to his shoulders, hands obediently tucked underneath.
"Oh, I thought my sleep-talking woke you." Mo Xing whispered, not wanting to disturb Senior Mian Hua and Senior Cai Hong, who were still asleep.
"No, it didn't. What did you dream about? Care to share?" Zhang Zhihao asked.
"I dreamed about an old friend. He told me that he and I would be enemies from now on." Mo Xing paused. "It was a strange dream."
"Not too bad."
Zhang Zhihao replied calmly.
"Master, do you think we'll be friends or rivals in the future?"
"That's an interesting question." Zhang Zhihao smiled. "Someone like you, whether as friend or foe, I find you quite intriguing."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Mo Xing was taken aback, not quite understanding what Master was getting at.
"There's still over an hour to sleep. Close your eyes and rest well." Zhang Zhihao said, then turned on his side.
"Alright."
Mo Xing felt sleepy again and closed his eyes.

At seven fifty in the morning.

After breakfast, Mo Xing headed to the Lightwing Teaching Building for class.
Senior Cai Hong and Senior Mian Hua had recommended several excellent theory instructors, but Mo Xing still had to find the actual classrooms himself.
Fortunately, the first-floor lobby and the entrances to each classroom had notices posted, listing which tutor was teaching in which room, along with a brief outline of the class content.
When Mo Xing found these classrooms, he saw they were packed to the brim, with some freshmen unable to get a seat and simply sitting on the floor.
Not a single seat was empty!
Those tutors recommended by seniors had full classrooms, and these freshmen arrived even earlier than he did—Mo Xing couldn't even secure a spot!

Mo Xing wandered around for half a circle, still unable to find an available classroom. The enthusiasm of the freshmen for grabbing classes far exceeded his expectations.
Practical courses would only be open for public classes in the afternoon; if he couldn't find a seat, he might as well return to the dormitory first.
Suddenly, Mo Xing felt an inexplicable chill and quickly turned around, noticing someone in a passing classroom casting a glance his way.
It was a tutor.
He wore a black trench coat, old-fashioned glasses, and had a slightly long beard.
His gaze was filled with murderous intent, as if saying: Student, are you here for class? Since you passed by, come in and sit down. What? Refusing even a tutor's invitation?
Mo Xing hesitated, then walked in.
This classroom differed from the others; there weren't many students, and they sat neatly in the first two rows.
Perhaps due to news reports, the students looked at Mo Xing as if he were a VIP, but upon hearing the tutor's slight cough from the podium, they quickly turned back to the blackboard.
With the first two rows full, Mo Xing could only sit alone in the third row.
It really felt like a VIP seat.
"Alright, almost everyone is here," the teacher said, pausing. "Let's begin."
Mo Xing thought, the number of students here wasn't even a tenth of the other classrooms; was this tutor so easily satisfied?
"I am the main lecturer for this history class—Xue Dinghai."
Xue Dinghai?
Schrödinger's Cat?
The Sea-Stabilizing Needle?
What a random name, Mo Xing mused internally.
"Also, I'm the Dean of Saint Sky Royal Academy."
Dean?
My goodness!
Hidden depths!
Sorry for the disturbance!
Mo Xing quickly apologized inwardly.
Applause erupted in the first two rows, and Mo Xing joined in.
"Long, long ago, there was a blacksmith named Collins, who always boasted that his name was the best signboard for the smithy. One day, a mysterious distinguished guest came to his shop..." Xue Dinghai began his passionate lecture.
Hearing the story's opening, Mo Xing felt sleepy, but he definitely couldn't sleep at his desk; his seat was too conspicuous! So he forced himself to keep listening.
...
"Boom—"
The bell rang outside.
Mo Xing snapped back to attention, realizing he'd nearly fallen asleep, having yawned countless times, while the students in the first two rows seemed even more "absent-minded."
Because the story was just too dull!
Xue Dinghai's teaching was utterly boring!
In fact, it was no different from an author padding word count in a manuscript.
No difference at all!
"What a pity, class ended so quickly."
Xue Dinghai shook his head and began packing the books on the podium.
"The school really should allow more time for class; three hours is nowhere near enough for me to lecture." His serious face showed regret.
"Xiao Feng, wake up! Class is over!" Mo Xing saw a student in the front row shaking the person next to him.
"What? Class is over?"
The student called Xiao Feng suddenly lifted his head, stepped on the desk, jumped to the floor, and dashed out the front door, followed by his friend. The corridor echoed with—
"I'll never take Xue Dinghai's class again!"
"What did you say, student? Don't let me know your name and student number, or I'll deduct all your credits and you'll never graduate!" Xue Dinghai ran to the front door and shouted.
"Hmph, students like that can pass the assessment? They don't even know how to respect teachers and elders."

Xue Dinghai turned around, stunned to find that all the students had bolted, leaving only Mo Xing in the room.
"They... just left through the back door," Mo Xing said honestly, pointing to the open door.
"One after another, what a disgrace." Xue Dinghai frowned. "And what's your story?"
"Professor Xue, I have a task confirmation form to hand in." Mo Xing took the task document from his storage ring. With the dean right in front of him, there was no need to run to the administration office; he could submit it directly.
"Oh?"
"An A-level task?" Xue Dinghai said in surprise. "You participated in the raid two nights ago?"
"Yes." Mo Xing nodded. "I just helped a little; the main credit goes to the student council president and the school security team."
"Alright, I understand. Go ahead with your business." Xue Dinghai put away the document.
"Then I'll be going."
Mo Xing waved and left through the front door.
Xue Dinghai stood at the door, watching Mo Xing disappear at the end of the corridor, smiled slightly, and murmured,
"Grant Shire, it seems this year's freshmen are quite interesting."
The Academy Plaza.
The path to Poly Cafeteria and Rain Apartments.
The grounds were filled with recruitment booths, tents adorned with banners and decorations, crowds bustling as if at a temple fair.
Mo Xing weaved through them, his hands loaded with recruitment flyers handed to him by strangers.
He couldn't bear to refuse anyone, or rather, he didn't know how to refuse, since they were so friendly that he just nodded and accepted the leaflets.
"Student, interested in learning about the school newspaper?" Someone bumped into Mo Xing from behind.
"Uh, sure. I'll take a look."
Mo Xing turned, about to take another flyer, but the person stopped short.
"You... you're Mo Xing!" the person exclaimed in surprise.
The shout drew the attention of everyone nearby, including those who had handed Mo Xing flyers earlier.
"Uh... yes."
Mo Xing replied awkwardly.
No sooner had he spoken than a crowd surged around him, each holding out flyers.
"Mo Xing, please consider joining the campus radio!"
"Mo Xing, our outdoor travel club is great too!"
"Mo Xing, the literature club welcomes you! Give it some thought!"
"Ah, well..."
Mo Xing was tongue-tied. Faced with so many people crowding in, he was completely at a loss.
When did he become a celebrity? Why was everyone fighting to recruit him?
"Hey, do you know? This is the singer team's recruitment area. Non-members, please leave."
Mo Xing looked up and saw Senior Mian Hua approaching with several classmates.
"I'm talking to you! Still handing out flyers?" Senior Mian Hua pointed fiercely at one of them.
"Club recruitment week is about free competition—who says there are designated areas?" the other replied with a laugh. "Are you a puppy? Do you need to mark your territory?"
"What nonsense! You think you have a right to disrupt our recruitment? If you dare, let's settle it with a fight!" Senior Mian Hua rolled up his sleeves.
"Come on, I'm not afraid!" The other threw down the flyers and rolled up his sleeves.
"Senior, calm down." Mo Xing rushed over to intervene.
"Mian Hua, calm down, you'll ruin the singer team's reputation!"
Other members, sensing trouble, hurried to restrain him.
"Don't hold me back, this guy needs to be taught a lesson!" Mian Hua struggled to break free.

=========Idle Chatter by the Pit=========
Due to contract requirements, the novel formerly titled "Starlight Unfallen" has been renamed "Dragon and Youth." The story remains unchanged, and the excitement continues. I hope everyone will keep supporting it~