Chapter 106: Tears of Joy

“Not even a word of encouragement for me?” Xiong Bing asked.
“Good luck,” Xiao Nan replied weakly.

He was bored watching all this.

These moments of sorrow and joy played out like shadow puppetry—lifeless and repetitive.

The true brilliance of life lay not in passing endless exams, but in the battles with others, in the struggle against the heavens and the earth.

Yet at this very moment, he clearly had little choice.

Like his classmates, he had to first claw his way out of the muddy swamp to finally leap into the vast ocean.

“Xiao Nan, why do you look so dispirited? Are you worried you won’t pass? Don’t lose heart. Even at a third-tier university, with dedication and effort, one can still make a name for oneself,” Wei Yunyun said softly as she leaned closer.

Her face was resolute, but deep in her eyes flickered a fragile uncertainty—she too lacked confidence.

This girl seldom spoke, and Xiao Nan had once thought she was a snob, only exchanging a few words with the class monitor, Lin Hao, and treating others with icy indifference.

Now, his perspective had shifted. She wasn’t indifferent; she was constantly urging herself forward, never allowing distraction or retreat—only progress.

She could not afford failure.

He recalled that Wei Yunyun rarely ate meat during school lunches, mostly consuming vegetables and tofu.

Her family was clearly poor. How had she scraped together the tuition fees?

Perhaps there was a tale of hardship and perseverance behind it.

She didn’t concern herself with others’ opinions, only focusing on studying and training hard.

The class advisor, Yang Yankun, had chosen her as the study committee member with no mistake.

“You have to work hard too,” Xiao Nan smiled.

He didn’t admit that he wasn’t worried about the exam at all.

Sensing his kindness, a broad smile spread across Wei Yunyun’s thin face.

Xiao Nan noticed that this usually inconspicuous girl looked quite beautiful when she smiled sincerely, rather than putting on a cold front.

He even heard a few classmates swallowing nervously behind him.

“Thunk...”

“Do you think Xiong Bing will pass?” Wei Yunyun, perhaps nervous, kept seeking conversation with Xiao Nan.

“Probably. The big guy’s strength is formidable, even stronger than Lin Hao by a bit. As long as he doesn’t hold back, passing will be easy.”

Xiao Nan glanced at Lin Hao, who was still boasting flamboyantly in front of the others, and smirked.

“Easy, huh...” Wei Yunyun pondered the word, then suddenly gasped, “Did you say he’s stronger than Lin Hao?”

A hush fell. Lin Hao’s proud laughter ceased abruptly, replaced by glaring anger.

The surrounding students and teachers all looked on in surprise.

Wei Yunyun apologized sheepishly, “Sorry, I was just startled.”

She obviously doubted Xiao Nan’s words.

“Wait and see the test,” Xiao Nan said, unconcerned. Some things required firsthand witnessing.

...

On stage, Xiong Bing abandoned his usual simple demeanor. Standing tall and erect, he looked more imposing.

At over 1.9 meters tall, his stature was no less intimidating than that of the silver-white puppet.

He raised his sword, guarding his left chest, then suddenly leaned forward at a forty-five-degree angle to the stage.

The sword’s gleam became like a silver ribbon, slicing through the puppet’s assault just as the violent silver ape puppet lunged.

“Screech...”

A grating metallic sound rang out, ear-piercing.

Amidst the sharp sword light was an unusual delicacy and softness that swept away two silver claws, then struck heavily at the puppet’s chest.

“Boom!”

The puppet’s body shuddered and tilted back slightly, then stopped.

“That’s Blood Battle for a Thousand Miles... huh, it stopped it.”

“Seems like his Bloodshed Sword technique added some new moves.”

“He only made one strike—just one. Is this really Xiong Bing?”

A chorus of astonished whispers rose.

Wei Yunyun glanced at the glowing screen beside her. The red digits stood out: Vitality 4.6, Strength 931.

“He’s not far from his limit?” Her voice trembled with disbelief, yet she had to accept it.

Lin Hao stood frozen, his face darkening.

Losing to Li Shaohua was understandable—after all, that family had a powerful legacy, wealth beyond measure, and daily access to rare elixirs.

But Xiong Bing, this big dumb guy? Why was he stronger than him?

Rumor had it that Xiong Bing was an orphan who had drifted the streets before somehow making it into Yuanjiang No. 1 High School. That alone was considered a miracle.

He had no resources, no background. Why? Why?

Lin Hao’s pride vanished without a trace. Sometimes the most unbearable sight is a familiar peer suddenly outshining you.

His heart burned with resentment.

He felt mocked by everyone, even those classmates who had tried to be friendly earlier now looked at him with strange, unbearable eyes.

...

“Xiao Nan, I didn’t expect your insight to be so sharp,” Wei Yunyun said admiringly.

No wonder she rarely conversed; this girl was blunt and straightforward, never hiding her thoughts.

“Not bad. The big guy hid his strength well, but his posture and gait already gave him away.

Just now, he cleverly deflected the puppet’s claw, then unleashed a powerful strike with his Bloodshed Sword—combining strength and technique smartly. He fought intelligently.”

Being looked at with admiration always felt good.

Especially when the admirer was a hardworking young woman.

I’m shallow like that.

Xiao Nan smiled and explained without holding back this time.

“Then how do you think I should fight to get a good result?”

Wei Yunyun asked nervously.

Xiao Nan noticed her left pinky trembling slightly—a sign of deep unease.

When fate hangs in the balance, who can face it calmly?

Perhaps for her, passing the martial university entrance exam meant the difference between a lifetime of poverty and a future of hope.

Fate is mysterious.

No one knows whether life will bring thunder or rain.

“You... what?”

Xiao Nan drew out the words, making Wei Yunyun even more anxious. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Getting a good result isn’t hard. But you can’t just charge straight through the center. That kind of straightforward attack might get you passing marks, but won’t yield a high score.” Xiao Nan no longer withheld the secret.

Some students had just barely passed, their power lacking substance, vitality not fully summoned—far worse than their usual performance.

“How then?” Wei Yunyun’s eyes dimmed. That was indeed her tactical plan.

“For the first thirty seconds, you defend only—retreat step by step. When you reach the left corner of the stage... sidestep, then dart behind the puppet, wielding your sword reversed to slash...”

Xiao Nan described the basic thirteen sword moves—because Wei Yunyun only knew that set.

“Sidestep, reversed slash... but that...” Wei Yunyun trailed off, blushing as she imagined it, and secretly scoffed.

The target of that attack was somewhat embarrassing.

Xiao Nan grinned, “Do you want a good score or your image? Your choice. I gave you the plan—you decide whether to use it.”

Another student took the stage next, failing miserably, and left after one minute with red eyes.

Watching that boy, Wei Yunyun inhaled deeply, her gaze sharpening with resolve.

When it was her turn, she wasted no words. Under the puppet’s fierce claw strikes, her sword moved steadily, neither hurried nor anxious.

Just as she was about to retreat to the stage edge, she suddenly twisted sideways, shifted into a slanting bow stance, and spun to deliver a reversed slash.

The puppet charged fiercely, but halted in surprise just as Wei Yunyun’s sword slashed upward at its groin, sparks flying.

“Whoosh...”

Gasps echoed all around.

So ruthless.

The puppet predictably stopped, its eyes flickering with red light.

The electronic screen flashed numbers: Vitality 3.9, Strength 753 jins.

Wei Yunyun turned her head to look, disbelief written across her face.

Then, suddenly, she threw down her sword, clenched her fist with one hand, and jumped up.

Her eyes shimmered with moist light, revealing the lively spirit of youth.

Her score was only 0.1 shy of the top-tier martial university, Lijiang University.

With a month left before the provincial exams, she could surely raise her vitality and strength.

Unlike prestigious universities, top martial universities rarely eliminate students who meet the standards.

Her expectations weren’t high anymore; she was already satisfied.

Silence fell briefly before a tide of applause erupted.