Chapter 136: Final Exam Rivalry

Winter break was fast approaching, which was just as well; he would head home as soon as the exams were over.

When Zhang Pu returned to the classroom, Zheng Xiaoming secretly reported to him that in his absence, Huang Xiaobiao had been working with a desperate intensity, even reaching the top rank in the entire grade during the recent mock exams. Zheng Xiaoming’s expression was one of profound distress, looking for all the world like a defeated rooster. Zhang Pu, however, felt as calm as still water.

Since arriving at this school, he had first put the school bullies in their place and then asserted his dominance on the basketball court. As for his academics, he knew that if he truly wanted to, he could be just as brilliant in that arena. Yet, it was as if he had suddenly changed his mind; he no longer felt the urge to pursue the nation’s most prestigious university.

"What's wrong with you? Feeling the pressure?" Zheng Xiaoming, naturally unaware of the complex thoughts swirling in Zhang Pu’s mind, assumed that hearing about Huang Xiaobiao’s recent success had put immense pressure on him, making him feel that victory was slipping away.

Zhang Pu smiled at Zheng Xiaoming and said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing."

Zheng Xiaoming shook his head in resignation, unable to say much more. He had no way of knowing that Zhang Pu had already decided not to attend the best university, but instead to enroll in a remote one—a school that, while reputable, was far from the caliber of the top institution in the capital. Zhang Pu didn't care how shocked Zheng Xiaoming and the others would be when the time came. This once, to deflate Huang Xiaobiao’s ego, he was willing to defeat him just to stand up for Zheng Xiaoming. But after the final entrance exams, he would intentionally score lower than Zheng Xiaoming to choose a less prestigious university, all to attend to some personal business there.

That university was so remote that even people like Zheng Xiaoming would likely never consider applying there. But it made no difference to Zhang Pu; the university held something he needed. All of that, however, was a matter for next year, at the very least after the new year.

Zhang Pu’s return from his leave of absence caused a minor stir in the class and the school. To the school bullies like Zheng Furen and Gao Lixia, he was their secret leader. Within his own class, he had long been famous, especially after becoming a "god of basketball." Several girls in the class, such as the class monitor Lin Xuehong, came over to greet him with superficial warmth, though Zhang Pu could tell they didn't believe he could actually outperform Huang Xiaobiao in the finals.

Huang Xiaobiao also spoke to him, though his tone was laced with disdain, implying that Zhang Pu was merely showing off by relying on special connections. Zhang Pu countered bluntly, "Don't go crying when you get beaten in the final exams."

"Crying?" Huang Xiaobiao was stunned. Wasn't that a jab at him for being effeminate? He was incensed. He wanted to use his fists, but having secretly learned that Zhang Pu was formidable, he had to swallow his pride. He had considered using his own connections, but after hearing whispers from the principal about the powerful figures backing Zhang Pu, he backed down again. Now, he felt that only by studying ferociously could he suppress Zhang Pu; otherwise, he felt he might actually die of rage. Huang Xiaobiao huffed as he walked away, looking, ironically, just like the very thing he was accused of being—though it was unclear if he realized it himself.

Zhang Pu shrugged, waiting to give Huang Xiaobiao a show at the end of the term. While he had claimed he would beat him, Zhang Pu hadn't put much effort into his studies. With the minor techniques from the world of cultivation, he knew he had ways to outperform Huang Xiaobiao even if he couldn't get a perfect score.

Zhang Pu was currently focusing his energy on mastering his Black Gold Staff technique. Beyond the physical strikes, he wanted to infuse it with various types of spiritual energy, such as fire or water. He attended school symbolically during the day and returned to the Flower Sea Inn at night. There were many types of spiritual energy—wind, fire, water, light, earth, thunder, wood, darkness, and necromancy—but Zhang Pu felt he was best suited to adding fire and water to his staff techniques. The fire made the Black Gold Staff scorching hot, while he used the water element to create a freezing effect. He sparred with several experts from the Witch Ghost Sect, and even Liu Yingde marveled at how the staff shifted between scalding heat and icy cold, making it unpredictable and ghostly.

Days slipped by quietly. In the blink of an eye, the final exams arrived. Even the teachers were worried for Zhang Pu; he had taken so much leave and missed so many lessons, and he didn't seem to be working hard at all. However, because even the principal seemed wary of the mysterious connections behind Zhang Pu, the teachers said nothing. They all thought, "Perhaps someone with such special connections isn't here for the academics anyway." But if not for the studies, then why be here? No one could quite fathom what was going on with Zhang Pu.

When the exams began, Huang Xiaobiao was still grinding away with feverish intensity, while Zhang Pu remained as carefree as ever, acting as if nothing were the matter. Zheng Xiaoming even asked him privately, "Zhang Pu, you aren't actually serious about beating Huang Xiaobiao, are you?"

Zhang Pu replied, "Who said? You think so? Well, just wait and see!"

During the days of the exams, Huang Xiaobiao seemed to struggle, as if he were carrying a heavy stone in his heart. He had heard of Zhang Pu’s boast, and while he had initially scoffed at it as mere posturing, his composure shattered when the results for the first subject, physics, were posted.

Zheng Xiaoming, who had been watching closely, quickly got the news: Zhang Pu’s score was higher than Huang Xiaobiao’s. Huang Xiaobiao had missed a perfect score due to minor carelessness, while Zhang Pu had achieved a perfect score. The news spread through the classroom instantly, and even the physics teacher exclaimed in surprise, having expected Zhang Pu to barely pass.

"This must be a fluke, right?" Huang Xiaobiao muttered to himself in a corner, looking like a fool. He could hardly believe it, but even the teacher confirmed it. The students’ perception of Zhang Pu shifted once again.

When Zhang Pu outperformed Huang Xiaobiao in the second subject as well, he suddenly felt an urge to look into Huang Xiaobiao’s heart to see just how dejected he felt. He even considered offering a word of comfort: "Don't cry, be a man! Victory and defeat are common in life."