First Military Academy administrative office, tea room.

The stove was boiling water, which had just reached its boiling point. The lid of the kettle rattled as steam drifted from above the stove...

On the tea table, in a swan-necked vase, a bouquet of fresh flowers still beaded with water was placed. They were pale yellow daisies. Beside the vase, several round porcelain plates were neatly arranged, filled with baked cookies, tiramisu, and fragrant osmanthus cake...

This created a cozy and peaceful atmosphere in the tea room, however!

It was all an illusion!

The entire atmosphere of the tea room was rendered awkward by Hong Jiang, who held tea in his left hand and snacks in his right, chatting away constantly. His demeanor of eating as if every bite was a profit, drinking as if every sip was a bargain, and acting like he wasn’t an outsider at all, was embarrassing.

Everyone present had a reputation and status, including Yang Zhi, the principal of the Alliance First Military Academy; Director Jiang, the official representative of Alliance University; Director Lu from the Alliance Department of Education; and representatives from the top ten military academies of the Alliance... In short, each name was known by all, and none of them could behave as shamelessly as Hong Jiang.

The tea?

Top-quality Cloud Mist Tea, worth a fortune.

The snacks?

All made with various rare natural ingredients, possessing excellent taste, aroma, and appearance, and besides, having significant health benefits.

Even the water used for brewing tea?

It came from the snow mountain water of the natural mountains on the Alliance’s most famous green planet.

...

These were all good things.

Everyone present knew these were good things since the host, Alliance First Military Academy, provided them for entertaining guests. Would they be fake?

But—

This was a place for the representatives of various schools to engage in exchanges. This gathering was meant for them to watch student competitions and discuss, guide, etc., not to indulge in tea and snacks.

No matter how precious the tea and snacks were, most people there would only taste them slightly and would never stoop to the disgraceful behavior of Hong Jiang.

At this moment—

Distracted by eating and drinking, Hong Jiang gave the teapot a gentle shake, discovering there was no tea left, and promptly said: "Old Yang, the tea is gone. Get me another pot."

The atmosphere in the tea room grew tense again.

The face of Yang Zhi, the principal of Alliance First Military Academy, could no longer be described as merely black.

That bastard!

Was he treating him like a tea-boy?

As Yang Zhi looked at his expression, Hong Jiang actually gave an innocent look in front of everyone, saying: "I’m not lying to you, it’s really... really gone."

Yang Zhi took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration, and said, "I don’t have tea here, please help yourself."

Hong Jiang was immediately displeased, glaring and saying, "What nonsense are you talking about, the tea is boiling right in front of you, it’s all boiled, hurry, bring it over. While it’s hot, I have to blend a pot of Cloud Mist."

Yang Zhi’s mouth twitched, repeatedly reminding himself to hold back, hold back, must hold back... After such psychological adjustment, Yang Zhi raised his hand, passing the boiled teapot over.

Hong Jiang took it, smilingly saying, "Thank you."

After a brief pause, Hong Jiang continued, "Old Yang, after a few years, your temperament has improved. If it were before, you would have rolled up your sleeves to fight with me for treating you like this!

It seems, these years, you must have spent a lot of time cultivating your disposition." Hong Jiang said with a smile, sipping a cup of tea and praising, "Good tea! Good tea!"

Yang Zhi’s face darkened, saying, "That’s enough, you’ve drunk all the snow mountain water in the whole tea room by yourself. How come you’re not full yet?"

Hong Jiang listened, still smiling, with no care, "Old Yang, and everyone... I’m not intentionally crying poor in front of you, nor deliberately being annoying, upsetting you, it’s really—our poor nook doesn’t have anything. The level of Cloud Mist Tea like this, I wouldn’t even dare to think of it."

"Ah!" After speaking a bunch, Hong Jiang sighed heavily.

Those present, priding themselves as cultured figures, didn’t bother to argue with Hong Jiang, only thinking he was talking nonsense, thinking: though it smells a bit, there is nothing that an air current cannot solve in terms of odor, just let the air spread a bit.

However, Hong Jiang wasn’t a peaceful character, as everyone quieted down, preparing to start the students’ competition, Hong Jiang suddenly said: "Ah! Old Niu! The student you brought this time, what’s their name?"

"Shen Sheng, right?" Hong Jiang raised his voice, looking at the old man sitting diagonally opposite him, that old man remained quiet, showing a peaceful and trouble-free demeanor.

Upon hearing Hong Jiang provoking him, the old man didn’t respond to Hong Jiang, pretending to be deaf and blind, and even took up his teacup, sipping his tea.

"Hey! Niu Houdao! Don’t pretend you didn’t hear!" Principal Hong shook his leg, shamelessly said: "I tell you, that prized student of yours doesn’t stand a chance, any kid from my bunch could easily defeat her!"

As those words landed, the previously ’peaceful demeanor’ old man exploded instantly: "Hong Jiang you old thief! I warn you, stop your wicked ideas, I know all the bad intentions in your stomach!"

Hong Jiang chuckled, saying: "Calling you Niu Houdao is unjust to you, where are you kind-hearted? I see you also have a belly full of crooked intestines. Tell me, what malice have I stored? I’m just stating facts. Your prized student, before my prized student, is nothing but fragile."

The old man, Niu Houdao, it wasn’t his nickname but his real name, others saw it matching his look and personality, yet Niu Houdao didn’t think so, especially when his name came out from Hong Jiang’s mouth, it just felt unpleasant.

At the moment, Niu Houdao’s face darkened, saying: "Stop boasting here, your Lanyue Star though great, is but of the lowest rank among the top ten universities, how many places do you earn in competitions every year, don’t you have an idea yourself?

Defeat my student?

What with?

With those students infected by X virus messing up their brain cells?" Niu Houdao’s mouth fired words like a machine gun, rattling out not a single polite sentence, "I think you better stop boasting here, find a place to wash your face and brush your teeth.

That foul breath." As Niu Houdao spoke, he pinched his nose.

Hong Jiang wasn’t angry at all, chucklingly saying: "You’re not satisfied with me, I’m not satisfied with you either, otherwise, let’s have those kids fight each other to see who wins and who loses."

"Ha?" Niu Houdao sneered, "Smarten up, I won’t compete with you."

Trying to trick me?

No way.

Hong Jiang said: "You simply dare not compete."

Niu Houdao said: "I don’t want to bother with you."

"Your student, always boasting, appearing impressive, actually facing weak opponents, apart from Shen Sheng, who else do you have? I wager you won’t win a single place this time."

Niu Houdao said: "You’re talking nonsense."

"Whether it’s nonsense, have a match." Hong Jiang chuckled, saying: "I see you just don’t dare, afraid of losing face after losing to me."

Hong Jiang: "You simply dare not."

Hong Jiang: "If the soldiers are timid, one is enough; if the leader is timid, a whole bunch!"

Hong Jiang: "You’re timid, the kids you teach are timid!"

Hong Jiang: "Your whole school is timid!"

Niu Houdao turned his back to Hong Jiang, however, behind him, Hong Jiang’s mouth was just like a tap left running, noisily giving him a headache.

Finally, unable to tolerate anymore, Niu Houdao angrily said: "Compete!"

Niu Houdao roared: "I’ll fight to the death with you!"

Hong Jiang laughed.