Meng Hongchen had always been a little mischievous.
So now, seeing Ju Zi and Ke Ke staring at her with curiosity and anticipation, clearly eager to learn about Liu Yuan's true strength…
She didn't answer directly.
Instead, she gave a playful, mysterious smile.
"Well… you'll find out sooner or later. We're all in the same class anyway."
That smug, teasing tone—paired with her deliberately secretive attitude—instantly pushed their curiosity to the limit.
It felt like punching cotton.
Frustrating and unsatisfying.
Ju Zi and Ke Ke both had black lines on their faces.
"Little Meng, you always do this!" Ju Zi puffed her cheeks, poking Meng Hongchen's arm in mock annoyance. "You hook our interest and then refuse to explain. That's too much!"
Ke Ke nodded vigorously. "Exactly! That's just cruel—you're deliberately keeping us in suspense!"
Meng Hongchen simply giggled.
She brushed their hands away and winked mischievously.
"Secret! The more you ask, the less I'll say."
"Anyway, you'll get to see it yourselves soon… just don't get scared when the time comes."
Her words only made things worse.
Like feathers brushing against their hearts, their curiosity burned even stronger.
The classroom buzzed with laughter and chatter, filled with a lively atmosphere.
---
Meanwhile, as the homeroom teacher, Mr. Xuan had already arrived at his office.
But instead of heading straight to class, he sat at his desk, quietly reviewing a file.
[Name: Liu Yuan]
[Age: Fifteen]
[Background: Former student of Shrek Academy, transferred with special approval from Dean Jing Hongchen. Designated Core Disciple.]
[Instructor: Mr. Xuan]
His slender fingers tapped lightly against the desk as his gaze lingered on the name.
"Liu Yuan…" he murmured softly.
"What kind of person are you… to earn such attention from the Dean?"
Earlier, Jing Hongchen had personally summoned him.
Without any pleasantries, the Dean had gone straight to the point—ordering him to focus on cultivating Liu Yuan with utmost care.
He had even stated clearly:
This boy could very well become a key force in defeating Shrek Academy in the future.
That alone was enough to pique Mr. Xuan's curiosity.
What kind of talent could warrant such expectations?
---
Ring—Ring—
The clear sound of the school bell echoed.
Mr. Xuan closed the file, his expression returning to calm professionalism as he rose and headed toward the classroom.
The moment he stepped inside, the lively chatter instantly died down.
Students straightened in their seats, looking at him with respect.
He walked onto the podium, his gaze sweeping calmly across the room.
"Good morning. A new semester has begun. This term, I will continue to be your instructor."
His voice was steady and clear, naturally commanding attention.
"Before we begin, I'd like to introduce a new student."
"His name is Liu Yuan. He has transferred from Shrek Academy—and has been personally designated as a Core Disciple by the Dean."
"I hope everyone will get along well, study together, and improve together."
A ripple spread through the classroom.
Even though voices were lowered, whispers and gasps filled the air.
"A Core Disciple… right after transferring?"
"Appointed by the Dean? That's insane…"
"Aren't Core Disciples basically monsters in this academy?"
Mr. Xuan ignored the murmurs.
He glanced toward Liu Yuan.
"Liu Yuan, please stand and introduce yourself."
"Alright."
Liu Yuan stood up calmly.
Tall and straight, with a composed demeanor and a gentle smile, he showed neither arrogance nor discomfort despite becoming the center of attention.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Liu Yuan."
"I look forward to learning and improving together with all of you."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly.
Neither humble nor overbearing—his composed attitude immediately left a good impression on most of the class.
Ju Zi and Ke Ke exchanged a knowing glance.
"As expected," Ju Zi whispered. "A Core Disciple… just like Meng said. Definitely a genius."
Ke Ke nodded, eyes shining as she observed him closely.
"But how strong is he, really? I'd love to see it for myself."
---
Mr. Xuan gestured for Liu Yuan to sit, but not before noticing something.
Several top students in the class now had a faint spark of battle intent in their eyes.
He smiled subtly.
Good. Competition breeds progress.
He tapped the podium lightly.
"Alright. Let's begin today's lesson."
"Today will be a practical session."
"It's been a full vacation—I need to assess everyone's current level."
With a flick of his wrist, a metallic lottery device appeared on the podium, filled with intricate gears.
"As usual, we'll hold an internal training match."
"Teams will be randomly assigned—groups of three."
"With the new addition, we now have thirty-six students. That makes twelve teams."
"Come forward and draw your lots. Same numbers form a team."
The classroom instantly came alive.
Students lined up eagerly, stepping forward to draw from the rotating metal container.
Ke Ke and Ju Zi exchanged excited glances.
"Isn't this perfect?" Ke Ke whispered. "We might finally see Liu Yuan's strength!"
Ju Zi nodded, anticipation clear in her eyes.
They quickly stepped forward, each grabbing a cold metal ball.
Opening their palms—
They froze.
Then burst into excitement.
"Number 5?!"
"Same here!"
They immediately hugged in delight.
"That's amazing—we're teammates!"
But then—
They paused.
"Wait… who's the third member?"
Their eyes swept across the classroom, searching for another "5."
One face after another—
Nothing.
"Strange… is someone missing?"
Finally, their gazes landed on Liu Yuan.
He was staring quietly at the metal ball in his hand.
On his palm—
The number 5 gleamed faintly under the light.
Both girls froze.
Then slowly turned to look at each other.
"No way…"
"That's way too coincidental…"
The very person they were eager to observe—
Had just become their teammate.
---
But Liu Yuan himself wasn't reacting because of the number.
At that exact moment—
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind once more.
[Ding! Limited-time task released.]
[Task: Win the class internal training match.]
[Reward: Random Pokémon Item × 1]
A new mission—
Had arrived.