"Huff, puff..."
Yu Wei successfully finished his final two thousand push-ups. Panting heavily, he said,
"Brother Lu, I won't keep you company anymore. I'm heading to class..."
"Go ahead."
Lu Xiaobai nodded, his attention undivided.
A common star skill like Basic Fist Technique was something anyone in the Lu family could teach him; it wasn't anything rare...
"Keep going!"
Lu Xiaobai popped another bottle of Stamina Recovery Potion and focused intently on his physical training.
Even he hadn't expected that the stamina recovery liquid he had brought just in case would play such a massive role...
Two hours passed.
The students in the class were already practicing the fist technique with decent form, trying to completely master this basic star skill.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiaobai was still doing his physical training.
"Only two thousand push-ups left. I still have half an hour, that's more than enough!"
His expression was excited, as if he could already see the dawn of victory.
However, just as he reached into his pocket, he grasped nothing but air...
"Damn, I'm out?!"
Lu Xiaobai's expression froze, a sudden jolt running through him.
He patted himself down all over but couldn't find a single bottle of potion.
Man, you've got to be kidding me...
"Hmm?"
Nangong Ling, who was idling out of boredom, saw this and teased,
"Lu Xiaobai, it looks like you won't be able to protect the Lu family's pride after all."
"..."
Lu Xiaobai's mouth twitched, and then he put on a wide smile.
"Teacher, my dear Teacher Nangong!"
"Stop right there!"
Nangong Ling said, her face full of vigilance.
"Just say what you want!"
"Teacher, spot me a vial of potion, just one will do. I promise I'll repay you handsomely in the future..."
"I'd love to help you."
Nangong Ling shook her head, then changed her tone.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any of that potion on me..."
"Not even one?"
"Your teacher here is a Level 20 Star Martial Artist, after all. This potion doesn't do much for me, so why would I carry it?"
"..."
Lu Xiaobai fell instantly silent, then cast his gaze toward the other students practicing their punches.
"They aren't as loaded as you are, so don't get your hopes up."
Nangong Ling smiled faintly.
"Alright, let's put an end to this farce."
"..."
Lu Xiaobai didn't answer. Instead, he activated his network chip. After a short while, he closed his eyes and waited silently, looking as if he wasn't anxious at all.
"What did you just do?"
Nangong Ling was taken aback, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"The people in our class might not have stamina recovery potions, but that doesn't mean others don't."
Lu Xiaobai smiled slightly and continued to wait calmly.
A moment later,
the door to the Star Martial Hall was pushed open, and a girl with a ponytail walked in.
Her skin was delicate and her features were gentle, yet her eyes were filled with pride and confidence. She seemed to radiate a light that unconsciously drew everyone's gaze.
"Holy crap, why is Lin Xue'er here!"
"That's Lin Xue'er? The school beauty who ranks first in our grade?!"
"Duh, who else could it be? She's gorgeous and her martial talent is outstanding. I heard her father is even a high-ranking official in our Starlight City!"
The crowd practicing their fist techniques immediately had their attention captured. Most of their eyes were filled with admiration and fervor.
Clearly, Lin Xue'er was the goddess in the hearts of the majority!
"Teacher Nangong."
Lin Xue'er smiled gently and greeted Nangong Ling, who was standing to the side.
"You're not here for me, are you?"
Nangong Ling's expression shifted slightly, seeing through the girl's purpose at a glance.
Lin Xue'er nodded, then swept her gaze around the room before finally settling on Lu Xiaobai, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor!
A fiery glint appeared in her eyes as she stepped forward and handed over the stamina recovery potion in her hand, saying softly,
"Your potion."
Lu Xiaobai's face remained impassive. He grabbed the slightly warm potion and downed it in one gulp.
As the liquid was absorbed, he was revived to full health once again and began focusing on his push-ups, not even saying a single word to her.
He didn't have much time left; he had to hurry up and finish!
Seeing this, a look of surprise flashed in Lin Xue'er's eyes, but she didn't linger. Instead, she turned around and walked away.
"He actually gave the school beauty the cold shoulder..."
The crowd watched Lin Xue'er's retreating figure, feeling an immense sense of desolation on her behalf. They even imagined her looking heartbroken with red eyes, and a sense of indignation naturally rose in their hearts.
This guy is going way too far!
At this moment, Lu Xiaobai had no time to pay attention to anyone else. He focused entirely on his training.
Finally, he successfully completed the last requirement.
[Two-Star Quest: Five times the training volume has been completed]
[Reward Obtained: Starry Sky Points * 2]
"Two Starry Sky Points?"
Lu Xiaobai paused slightly, his eyes filling with excitement. He couldn't help but roar,
"This feels amazing!"
"??"
The crowd stared at Lu Xiaobai as if he had suddenly lost his mind, their faces full of bewilderment.
Is there really a need to be this excited...
"Uh..."
Lu Xiaobai noticed everyone's strange looks and chuckled, saying,
"I managed to protect the Lu family's pride after all!"
"I really don't understand young people nowadays..."
Nangong Ling shook her head, genuinely unable to comprehend why he was so obsessed with completing five times the normal training volume.
Right then,
a crisp bell rang, signaling the complete end of today's Star Martial class.
"Alright, class dismissed."
Nangong Ling didn't say anything else, turning around and leaving gracefully.
The students cast complex glances at Lu Xiaobai before turning around and leaving the Star Martial Hall as well.
What they had experienced today was simply too surreal.
The usually obscure Lu Xiaobai was suddenly exposed as the son of the Speaker, and just for a daily training session, he had chugged down potions worth tens of thousands of Alliance Credits.
Most importantly, this guy actually had a relationship with Lin Xue'er, and from the looks of it, she was the one taking the initiative to approach him.
They needed to go home and process everything. Some were even planning to hire a professional psychic or two; otherwise, they might end up with real psychological trauma...
"Brother Lu!"
Yu Wei immediately leaned in, full of excitement as he said,
"You really shocked the hell out of them today!"
His grades in class were mediocre, making him essentially invisible. Now that Lu Xiaobai was shining so brightly, as his sidekick, he could also ride the coattails of fame...
Hearing this, a hint of worry appeared in Lu Xiaobai's eyes.
If it weren't for completing the quest, he wouldn't have wanted to expose his family background at all. Of course, it wasn't because he liked keeping a low profile, but because his old man forbade it...
"Whatever, I'll deal with it later."
Lu Xiaobai shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. He then looked at the two Starry Sky Points on his interface and instantly became excited again.
As long as he could get these things, forget going against his old man's wishes—he would even go against his ancestors' teachings...