Chapter 46 0048: Am I Someone Who Cares About Money? (Third update, please vote for recommendations)

Perhaps their first meeting didn’t leave a good impression, so when Chu Yun approached the squad, it seemed none of the eight wanted him to stand alongside them. Chu Yun, not inclined to force himself into their circle, simply stood off to the side. The teacher gave Chu Yun a gentle smile and invited him to stand beside him. The group opposite, led by Zhang Yang, frowned.

After Chu Yun stood at the teacher’s side, the teacher began the introduction, “This is your new teammate who will be joining you for the city battle. His name is Chu—”

Before he could finish, Wang Biao cut him off, “Teacher, what’s the point of bringing this guy? Which city is he from? What’s his level? Was he admitted on scholarship, or did he use connections to come here and polish his resume?”

“That’s right, teacher. Don’t repeat last year’s mistake by recruiting some sponsor’s son just to show his face, only to nearly get him beaten senseless in the ring,” Zhao Hu added.

Seeing these seasoned veterans, the teacher felt helpless. After all, Chu Yun was invited by the school to participate in the tournament; he didn’t want to get too emotional with them.

He turned to Chu Yun, “Would you introduce yourself?”

Chu Yun glanced at the teacher and asked, “Can I not participate?”

The teacher looked troubled. “The principal said you’ve already taken the scholarship—five years’ worth—so you must participate.”

“Alright then.” Chu Yun sighed, not expecting the scholarship to be such a trap; if he’d known, he wouldn’t have taken it. He scanned the group—since escape was impossible, he might as well make peace with it.

“If the academy wants me to compete, I will,” Chu Yun said, glancing at Zhang Yang and the others, “but I don’t want to be teammates with them.”

He turned to the teacher, “Tell the principal—I can secure a spot for him, but I don’t need these people.”

“What do you mean?” Zhang Yang and the others erupted.

“Stay where you are!” The teacher saw them about to move forward and barked, “What are you doing? Stand still, all of you!”

“Is this how a newcomer acts?” Wang Biao said to Chu Yun, “Do you even know the rules? We’re already being generous by not rejecting you, and you dare turn things around? You think you’re the only one admitted via scholarship? Tell me, how much is your annual scholarship?”

“He receives two hundred thousand gold a year,” the teacher answered. “The school paid him a lump sum of one million for five years, twelve thousand more than Zhang Yang’s eighty thousand per year.”

Zhang Yang’s pupils widened instantly, and the others were stunned.

“Him?” Zhang Yang sneered. “Who are you trying to fool?”

Before he could continue, Chu Yun said to the teacher, “He gets eighty thousand? That won’t do. I refuse to compete for twenty thousand; let’s renegotiate at thirty thousand.”

With that, Chu Yun prepared to leave.

The teacher hurriedly grabbed him. “Let’s discuss this later, alright? Please don’t go.”

Chu Yun returned, insisting to the teacher, “I want to replace them all. These people are fodder—no wonder you haven’t won a spot in three years.”

“Say that again if you dare!” Zhao Hu threatened to start a fight, but Zhang Yang held him back. Zhang Yang glared at the teacher, “If you tell the principal that this guy wants to join and integrate with us, we’ll leave as a group. If he’s in, we’re out!”

“Goodbye,” Chu Yun said, turning to leave.

The teacher rushed to stop him, then said to Zhang Yang and the others, “You can leave, but return the scholarship money.”

The eight were stunned.

This wasn’t the scenario they had imagined. They had only intended to threaten, not expecting the teacher to really let them go.

“How will you compete without us? Teacher, there are only two months left. Think carefully!” Wang Biao said. “If you rebuild the team, just finding and recruiting people will take too long. There’s no time.”

The teacher replied sternly, “You have two options: allow Chu Yun to join, or leave and return the scholarship.”

How could they return the money? Most had already spent it elsewhere, invested it for their families—even if they wanted to, they couldn’t.

Clearly impossible.

Zhang Yang compromised, “Fine, let him join. But it’s the academy’s fault for failing to recruit strong external talent. If we don’t win a spot this year, don’t blame us.”

He then looked at Chu Yun impatiently, “Kid, enlist. From now on, call me squad leader—I’ll be supervising your training closely.”

“Hold on, Zhang Yang,” the teacher interrupted, addressing the eight students, “Chu Yun will be your star class squad leader.”

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow, “And me?”

“You’ll be vice squad leader,” the teacher said.

Zhang Yang took off his training uniform, “Play your games without me.”

And he walked away. The teacher didn’t try to stop him, surprising Wang Biao and the others. Were they really going to revolve around this young newcomer?

“Teacher, does he really get two hundred thousand a year?” Zhao Hu asked, motioning towards the teacher. “What’s his background? I remember Duanmu Ci was offered only four hundred thousand a year by other academies. Do you think this guy is worth even a tenth of Duanmu Ci?”

“Four hundred thousand?” Chu Yun looked at the teacher with a peculiar expression. “Duanmu Ci is worth four hundred thousand? Then, sorry—I don’t think you’re offering enough.”

With that, Chu Yun prepared to leave again.

The teacher was about to break down, rushing to plead with Chu Yun, “Let’s talk about the price later, don’t get upset.”

Meanwhile, Hou Manman, a member of the star class, arrived at the rear courtyard and encountered Zhang Yang.

“Help me out here. That teacher put a newcomer directly in charge—what’s his problem? Does he think I’m incapable of leading? But he can’t just choose some young kid to humiliate me, and with a two hundred thousand salary? Who’s he trying to fool?” Zhang Yang complained.

“Is it Chu Yun?” Hou Manman asked.

“Yes, I think that’s the name. He’s still out back,” Zhang Yang grumbled.

“Don’t be angry. Let’s go in first,” Hou Manman said.

Zhang Yang obliged—he didn’t really want to leave, fearing he’d have to return the money.

Following Hou Manman back, he saw the teacher pleading with Chu Yun, who looked every bit the master of the situation.

“What’s up with him?” Zhang Yang asked as he rejoined the group.

“Name your price. I said Duanmu Ci is worth four hundred thousand, and now that guy thinks his own scholarship is too low and stormed off,” Wang Biao sneered.

“He thinks the leader of Lan Feng is rich and foolish,” Zhao Hu said.

Hou Manman, however, told them, “If Duanmu Ci is really worth four hundred thousand, then Chu Yun should be worth six hundred thousand! You don’t know him, do you? Didn’t the teacher introduce him?”

She was surprised they didn’t recognize Chu Yun, but considering their constant training and isolation, it wasn’t odd that news hadn’t reached them.

“You haven’t left the academy these days, so you don’t know about the event that shook Watchtower City,” Hou Manman said.

“What event?” the eight asked, curious.

Hou Manman gestured toward the departing Chu Yun, “That young man—he defeated Duanmu Ci as a peer. I was one of the witnesses!”

The eight’s eyelids twitched, their bodies jolting.

At that moment, they heard Chu Yun’s voice as he reasoned with the teacher, “This isn’t about money. Do I look like someone who cares about money?”

Hou Manman rolled her eyes, “All my goodwill is gone!”

(Third update. Please vote to help me climb the ranks! More excitement tomorrow.)