Stabilizing Madness [Interstellar]

Chapter 38: Special Treatment

Chapter 38: Special Treatment
    In the dim space, the spreading scent of blood was chilling to the bone.
    The shocking scene left the remaining few too stunned to react, just staring blankly at their companion who was alive just a second ago, now slain with a single cut to the throat. The executioner, his face pale and unblemished by blood, stared straight at them.
    They fell silent.
    They thought to themselves, they had only heard from Xu Qing'an that his brother had a bad temper, was a pampered individual prone to bullying others due to his unstable emotions. But they never knew he could be a cold-blooded killer when destabilized!
    "Don't be afraid!"
    "He's just an A-level student, barely half a year into the academy. Wang got caught off guard, that's all! I refuse to believe that all of us together can't take him down!"
    The speaker's voice grew louder, an attempt to mask the underlying fear.
    The group, emboldened by this logic, drew their weapons and charged in unison.
    Only to be effortlessly subdued and grounded by Xu Qingran.
    Xu Qingran was ruthless and efficient, tackling each one as they came. Instead of striking to kill outright, he used their momentum against them, rendering them painfully incapacitated before delivering a fatal blow to those who refused to answer his questions.
    Regardless of their pleas or regrets, he showed no mercy, his strikes merciless and decisive.
    He was cold and detached, like a relentless specter.
    The last one standing was the only S-level in their small group.
    He looked at Xu Qingran, who was quietly cleaning his blade a short distance away, and finally caved in, "Yes, yes! We know your brother, Xu Qing'an, quite well!"
    In desperation, he shouted, "We informed him about your situation in the academy, and all those rumors outside? We leaked them. Are you satisfied now?"
    The S-level, glancing at the bodies around him, couldn't help but regret his actions.
    This was nothing like what they had been led to believe!
    The Xu Qingran they had heard about from Xu Qing'an was supposedly weak and timid, a complete wimp who would cry even at the thought of catching a chicken. But looking at the man before them, he seemed more than capable of not just catching a chicken but potentially doing something as horrific as stuffing it alive into someone's stomach!
    Internally cursing, he even began to resent Xu Qing'an.
    "Falsifying military information, did this kid intend to harm us? Why did we even listen to him and target a lunatic like Xu Qingran, when we had bright futures ahead?"
    Lost in thought, they were startled as Xu Qingran approached.
    His first words sent shivers down their spine: "Alright, let me also ask this: those incidents during my assessment, were those orchestrated by Xu Qing'an at your behest?"
    The man, trembling, hastily denied: "I don't know if it was Xu Qing'an's doing, but I assure you, we had no part in it!"
    "At most, we just tampered with the system during your entrance exam, hoping to see you make a fool of yourself."
    Xu Qingran: "I see."
    "So you think such actions against you would have been trivial?"
    The man stubbornly retorted: "Yeah, just a bit of gossip! It's not like it costs you anything!"
    "Is that so?" Xu Qingran smiled lightly, "But I beg to differ."
    He pointed at his head: "I have some issues up here."
    Then pointed at his heart: "And here, quite narrow-minded."
    "Anyone who irks me even slightly, I make sure to exact my pound of flesh."
    With a slight bend in his eyes, Xu Qingran added: "However, since you're the only one who answered my question, I'll grant you a less painful end."
    The man's pupils dilated in fear. Before he could react, darkness enveloped his vision.
    And then, he was swiftly silenced.
    The lab returned to eerie silence.
    The red alarm light continued to flicker as Xu Qingran approached the unconscious insectoid creature. He patted its plump body and pulled out its slender tail. The tail, a powerful weapon, could lift objects several times its weight, and its tip was as sharp and hard as a curved blade.
    Xu Qingran, holding the insectoid's tail, smirked coldly. He sliced his arm with it sharply before discarding the tail and casually exiting the chaotic lab.
    Soon, he encountered rushing guards. Unperturbed, he gestured towards the lab he had just left and reported the situation. The guards glanced at his fresh wound, nodded, and a team rushed in to handle the aftermath.
    In Linglong City, both the base's security personnel and the live broadcasting team were primarily focused on the more critical situation in the wilderness area. Hovering cameras flew chaotically over the disordered scene, with anxious viewers hopping between different live streams, fearing they might miss key moments.
    ·
    Social media platforms buzzed with commentary from celebrities and officials on the incident.
    Notably, officials from the Golden Wing Camp subtly criticized their Silver Dragon counterparts for mismanagement, seizing the opportunity to boost the popularity of their commander. This incident sparked debates among the citizens of both camps over which prince they supported was better suited to future imperial leadership.
    "Walking into the World of Stars" was broadcasted nationwide, gaining immense popularity. The academy students' performance in the crisis was also widely discussed online, earning praise: "True to the training of the Grandis Military Academy, even in real combat, the students are impressive."
    [Who can resist the charm of Ni Xiaoyan, such a cool girl! Other female students are equally stunning and formidable, real role models for girls!]
    [I doubted the quality of this academic year, but watching this, I'm convinced!]
    [My grandfather, a former soldier, cried watching tonight's broadcast. He said these students are brave and responsible, and he can rest easy now.]
    The netizens lauded the students in various live stream chats.
    Meanwhile, two cameras were closely following Prince Mu Ziyu's actions.
    As a leader who had climbed to the position of camp commander, he and his experienced subordinates were managing the situation steadily, taking charge of the challenging task of capturing the Hainas with his elite troops and high-ranking officers from the eastern sector.
    Silver Dragon's citizens cheered for him, countering the disparagements from the Golden Wing's supporters online.
    [Prince Mu definitely wouldn't want such an incident to happen!]
    The online community buzzed with discussions and debates over the unfolding events.
    [Even though Silver Dragon controls most of Linglong City, isn't the base research a joint effort of both camps? I don't understand the mentality of those making snide remarks at this time.]
    Mu Ziyu's command was still quite organized and rational.
    His serious expression made everyone else take the matter seriously.
    Only he knew that he was almost at the point of cursing out loud. If it weren't for the unfortunate timing of this live broadcast, he would have already lost his temper, abandoning any semblance of gentlemanly demeanor!
    The rescue operation was in full swing.
    The audience quickly noticed something else.
    Most of the time, one of the live broadcast's camera drones seemed to focus on a particular figure. It was a young man with excellent body proportions, wearing a distinctive black glove on his left hand, his soft brown hair now drenched by the rain, dark clothes clinging tightly to his lithe body, accentuating his athletic build.
    [Isn't that the crazy little Xu Qingran?]
    [Am I the only one who thinks he looks much healthier compared to a year ago? Uh, I mean he used to be so skinny, almost frail, but now he seems to have a fuller face and looks much healthier.]
    [Yeah, look at those arms now, he's actually got muscles!]
    [I noticed he looked much healthier since he started school. Probably being well-fed at the Shen residence, plump and rosy.]
    [I seriously suspect the Xu family was neglecting him before, barely feeding him.]
    Despite minimal camera switches, the number of viewers in the live stream kept increasing.
    The person on the screen had a sharp, cold gaze, standing out in the somewhat panicked crowd with his calm demeanor. One moment he was casually chatting with a passing companion, and the next, with a swift raise of his hand, he accurately grabbed a low-rank six-legged beast charging at them with its gaping maw.
    With a 'plop', the syringe was precisely inserted into the little creature's neck.
    Casually tossing it aside after the deed, he asked nonchalantly, "What were you saying just now?"
    The camera captured the dumbfounded expression of his classmate.
    Which caused a burst of laughter among the viewers.
    As the live stream room got more crowded, there were increasingly sarcastic and sour-toned comments questioning why the camera focused solely on Xu Qingran. But as the stream continued, these voices slowly faded, leaving only a few grumbling persistently.
    The reason was simple: Xu Qingran's fighting style was incredibly captivating!
    He was like a born assassin, preferring close-quarters combat with a knife over using a psychic gun. His movements among the raging alien creatures were like a swift cheetah, efficient, quick, and precise!
    When facing fiercer opponents, he was even more ruthless. Against challenging ones, he confronted them head-on, his gaze always calm and confident, devoid of any fear. He even had a thorough understanding of the habits and weaknesses of every species in the eastern sector, making him the most skilled among his peers.
    While others still had plenty of syringes left, he was already borrowing from those around him. Had they not witnessed his enrollment, they might have doubted whether he was actually one of the student instructors.
    [...Isn't this a good thing?]
    [Yeah, I think it's exactly what you'd expect from a top student at a top academy. Why would someone like that be expelled?]
    [In the live stream, many of the alien creatures are of middle-rank, equivalent to double S-level in strength. Some double S-rank students find them challenging, but to Xu Qingran, it seems as easy as slaughtering chickens!]
    [I suspect if it weren't for adhering to Linglong City's regulations, he could have easily killed them.]
    [If someone had told me before that an A-rank student could perform like a 3S, I would have never believed it.]
    [I declare, from today onwards, I am shedding my hat as a critic of the young master and becoming his fan!]
    [Sisters who turned from haters to fans, take me with you!]
    Strength has always been the best proof to crush rumors.
    No wonder netizens always see him in various live streams; the cameras usually auto-focus on the key scenes of battle, and his timely interventions are a constant. He subdues creatures of any species with ease.
    While others are engaged in life-and-death struggles, he seems to be merely fishing.
    Towards the end, even lower-rank alien creatures started to flee at the sight of him, as if they had seen the king of hell.
    Xu Qingran, having survived many years in the post-apocalyptic world, excels at two things.
    The first is killing people.
    The second is slaying mutant beasts.
    These alien creatures fundamentally are not much different from mutant beasts.
    While Xu Qingran's cleanup operation was going smoothly, the situation in Mu Ziyu's live stream was not so great. The Haina clan, the strongest on the periphery of the eastern sector, had their combat strength further enhanced by the rain.
    The middle-rank creatures were already tough to handle, and then there appeared a high-rank one capable of fighting on par with a typical 3S.
    The emergency reinforcements were still on their way, and there was a chance they'd be delayed by other creatures in the eastern sector. Mu Ziyu and his elite team struggled for a long time against the high-rank Haina, but their numbers were dwindling.
    Not that they were killed, but their attention was diverted by the surrounding middle-rank creatures.
    They had to prevent the numerous lower and middle-rank creatures from approaching, while also guarding against the devastating attacks of the high-rank one. The Haina, by nature, relished in killing; they would attack any non-kin they encountered, even without the intent to consume.
    Mu Ziyu tried to sneak up from behind while its attention was diverted by others, but he was violently thrown away by a flick of its tail, crashing into a nearby tree trunk and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
    Somehow, as they fought, it felt as though they had walked into a trap, suddenly finding themselves at a disadvantage.
    Their physical and mental strength had already been significantly drained in the earlier struggles.
    Trying to stand, Mu Ziyu realized one of his arms was injured from the impact, and even the slightest movement brought excruciating pain.
    He looked up at the mechanical drone flying overhead.
    He could easily imagine the ridicule he would face from those watching outside.
    He also envisioned his sister Mu Ziyan's schadenfreude upon seeing tonight's events.
    Mu Ziyu clenched his fist tightly, grinding his teeth in frustration and unwillingness to accept defeat.
    —This just goes to show, without a high-ranking psychic power, all other skills are meaningless!
    The primary criticism Mu Ziyu faced when compared to his older brother was his double S-rank psychic pool. Both he and Mu Ziyan were Type N, but Mu Ziyan possessed a top-tier 3S rank, while he was only double S.
    Since childhood, he always fell a step behind in all accomplishments.
    Be it in the arts or martial skills.
    That's why Mu Ziyu was particularly obsessed with the rank of his psychic pool.
    Heavy footsteps approached, bringing the massive beast towards his direction.
    Mu Ziyu, lips tightly pressed, grasped his personal longsword with his uninjured hand, thrusting it into the ground to support himself standing up and avoid a sneak attack from the high-rank Haina. Just as he was about to move, the beast suddenly raised its head, letting out a loud cry towards a certain direction, and then a figure with a sword lunged at it from the side, attacking fiercely.
    The psychic energy blade streaked through the night like lightning.
    It sliced through the weakened psychic defenses of the high-rank Haina, leaving a long gash on its shoulder. Simultaneously, the Haina's tail swiped, sending its attacker flying.
    Mu Ziyu glanced sideways, noticing the tall, dark figure rise effortlessly after the harsh impact.
    He appeared as if he had come straight from the most chaotic of battlefields, his body bearing numerous wounds, his trousers and shirt marked with slashes from sharp claws.
    The rain had stopped, and his boots splashed in the puddles of the wilderness, scattering droplets.
    The man turned slightly towards him, his gaze swiftly falling upon Mu Ziyu.
    In those deep amber eyes, there was a chill of an early spring night. His expressionless face somehow sent a shiver down one's spine. Clutching a combat knife, Mu Ziyu momentarily felt that, more than the aliens, the man seemed more inclined to use the blade on him.
    The thought startled him.
    But Xu Qingran simply calmly reset his dislocated arm with a snap.
    Then, gripping his knife, he charged towards the frenzied high-rank Haina.
    What followed was the most insane fight Mu Ziyu had ever witnessed.
    While others aimed to minimize damage and relied on flanking and ambush tactics against aliens, Xu Qingran did not. He confronted his adversaries head-on, regardless of their rank.
    More terrifying was his precise targeting.
    Even in direct confrontation, the high-rank Haina found no advantage, repeatedly falling to his successful strikes. Against the ferocity of the Haina, the small figure of the man, with a beast-like madness in his eyes, seemed like the true fierce dominator of the battle.
    Most importantly, there was no trace of fear of death in him.
    Many fear pain and death, especially when facing stronger enemies. Only those with an unusual mindset, like Type E, would show such disregard for death.
    Watching him get stabbed in the chest by the Haina's claw, Mu Ziyu was shocked. Yet, he saw a barely perceptible smile on Xu Qingran's face as he seized the moment of the creature's defensive lapse, exerting his maximum psychic energy to sever the high-rank's claw.
    The Haina howled in pain.
    Yet the one who should have felt more pain, nonchalantly pulled the embedded claw out of his body and tossed it aside.
    He was as composed as if he had only been bitten by a mosquito.
    Mu Ziyu couldn't help but recall the Xu Qingran he first saw in the Eta Arena.
    The same look in his eyes, that madness to drag everyone down with him even in death, led Mu Ziyu to impulsively bet on him, hoping he would become someone as formidable as Shen Tingyu. Unfortunately, theoretically, his limit should be S-rank.
    However, judging by his current attack power, he was almost at a preparatory S-rank, perhaps even among the strongest in that category. Normally, one of his rank should be overpowered by a high-rank Haina, not engaging in such an evenly matched battle!
    The high-rank Haina, infuriated and irrational, began attacking wildly.
    This played right into Xu Qingran's hands.
    He smirked silently, like a butcher seizing a fleeting opportunity, initiating his round of counterattacks.
    Indeed, during Xu Qingran's initial training with simulated Haina, he spent most of the month being overpowered. That was his first real taste of being suppressed by a higher power tier.
    But he never resigned himself to defeat against a target he sought to overcome.
    If he couldn't win, he would train until he could.
    Mu Ziyu, sitting collapsed on the ground, was utterly astounded.
    Until today, he had stubbornly believed that the rank of a psychic pool trumped everything. Now, he watched Xu Qingran fiercely battling the high-rank creature.
    Every strike he delivered was ferocious, as if draining all his psychic energy, his observational skills meticulous, his pale blue blade glinting with immense force.
    Finally, the massive beast on the battlefield succumbed to the relentless attacks and collapsed.
    The equally battered figure stood resiliently till the end, dragging an aura of fresh fury, stepping towards Mu Ziyu.
    Finally, he squatted down in front of him, leveling their eyes.
    He then grabbed the psychic knife, his eyes cold and indifferent, and thrust it forcefully in Mu Ziyu's direction.
    Caught off guard, Mu Ziyu's eyes widened in shock.
    The audience in the live stream instinctively held their breath, a cry of alarm on the brink of escaping.
    After a moment, the blade was deeply embedded in the tree trunk beside Mu Ziyu's head.
    For a fleeting second, Mu Ziyu felt a tremor in his soul.
    Striving to maintain his composure as a prince of the empire, he asked in a steady voice, "Xu Qingran, what are you doing?"
    Xu Qingran, back towards the camera drone, met his gaze with a frosty intensity for a few seconds.
    Then he spoke calmly, "Ah, nothing much."
    "Just recently heard about my potential expulsion from the academy, and I wanted to ask Your Highness, does my performance today not merit my stay at the academy?"
    Indeed.
    Xu Qingran's elaborate setup was not only to strip a layer off Mu Ziyu but also to showcase his capabilities in such a dramatic manner, making both Mu Ziyu and the public aware of his strength. He knew well that sometimes, actions spoke louder than any explanation.
    Including the Haina's hunt on Mu Ziyu and his guards, all were part of his calculated plan. Even the final showdown with the real high-rank Haina was orchestrated to challenge his own limits and to make a statement.
    Xu Qingran added, "What a Type E can achieve, I, Xu Qingran, can do just the same."
    "So, Your Highness, do you think someone with my abilities should be expelled as the rumors suggest?"
    ·
    The chaos in Linglong City finally subsided at dawn with the help of forces from other regions. Almost all the escaped alien creatures were captured, and a few, too uncontrollable and dangerous, were regrettably killed during the capture process.
    On the same day, the topic "Xu Qingran's Expulsion" surged to the top of hot searches alongside Linglong City, followed by a conspicuous 'Breaking' tag.
    Trending posts included various highlights of Xu Qingran's performance from last night's live broadcast.
    The poster commented, "When I first heard about Xu Qingran's potential expulsion, I thought it was due to mediocre performance not meeting the academy's standards. But after watching last night's live stream, I just want to shout—have Grantis gone mad?? Letting go of such a talent?!"
    "Honestly, if I can't see such a figure in the military, I'll lose it before you do!"
    The comment section was bustling.
    [Agree with the blogger!! Why should a student like Xu Qingran be expelled?]
    [For years Grantis has boasted about its fairness, but now it seems they might be engaging in shady dealings. Maybe the straightforward Xu offended someone, and they're using this as an excuse to get rid of him.]
    [If Grantis really expels a student like this, I'll start questioning its integrity.]
    Other top universities with military training academies across the nation also joined in, seizing the opportunity to poach talent.
    [Miles Military Academy: Dear Grantis, if you don't want him, just let us know. If not, we at Miles are ready to send him an invitation!]
    [Kachinor Military Academy: We want him too! We're backed by Silver Dragon! Our retiring major general from the Serpent military district said he'll personally groom Xu Qingran as his successor after graduation!]
    [Tianhuan Military Academy: Although we're under Golden Wing, we're the empire's second-largest university! Besides, isn't Xu a future bride of the Shen family here [wink]? It's best he joins us, soon to be one of our own!]
    Besides Grantis, Cayenne also has other prestigious universities.
    Their admission standards are no less stringent than Grantis', but they lack the same resources due to not being directly supported by the royal family. Nonetheless, students who work hard can still shine in their respective fields.
    Xu Qingran's highlight reel was already viral online, even visible under the Linglong City trending tag. The chaos in Linglong City was a major national incident, attracting more attention than just casual internet onlookers.
    Some of them, older and less concerned with high society scandals, only saw in the video a young man capable of providing a sense of security, yet inexplicably facing expulsion from Grantis, which seemed utterly unreasonable.
    Quickly, the topic "Opposition to Xu Qingran's Expulsion" also hit the trending searches.
    The comments below were a frenzy of mentions, urging Grantis University and its military academy to respond.
    More explosively, the normally aloof and reserved official account of Eta, known only for major announcements and wanted notices, unexpectedly shared Xu Qingran's popular video, commenting: "Xu Qingran once endured the trials of Eta Tower No. 3, back when his psychic pool was merely at B-rank."
    The public was again taken aback.
    This led to even more intense criticism of Grantis and the Silver Wing Camp, to the extent that those from Silver Wing dared not speak up.
    On the highly popular Xingya Forum, Xu Qingran's name dominated the front page for days, making him the most talked-about person of the year on the forum. The previous post mocking his potential expulsion was also constantly revisited and ridiculed.
    [Laughing all the way to the bank, the original poster is clearly just jealous.]
    "What's wrong with being Grade A? I'm still awesome even at this level!"
    "Grade S for sure. I saw the video; his psychic power is way beyond Grade A. Probably because he's close to his developmental peak without an immediate upgrade. I bet he'll advance to S soon."
    "Screw it, I'm not hiding it anymore. I'm a die-hard fan of the madman, and I'm proud of it! Such a Dior icon!"
    "Where's the original poster? Why the silence now?"
    "That other thread next door was hilarious too, trying to put down our guy to praise some green tea bitch. Are they even comparable?"
    "If I remember correctly, Professor Lu's reputation isn't so great now, is it? Didn't he misuse his authority to slander our guy's medical school exam results before?"
    "Now that you mention it, wasn't our guy such a tragic figure? Targeted and falsely accused of cheating in medical school. And after he got into the military academy on his own merit, now he's being unjustly forced to drop out. So pitiful."
    While the outside world was heatedly debating, Xu Qingran was lying in the medical ward of Linglong City base, recovering from his injuries.
    The day he walked in covered in blood with Ni Xiaoyuan and Feng Wei by his side, the military doctor nearly performed a high-pitched scream on the spot. She had never encountered a student like Xu Qingran, who always managed to drop bombshells every time he appeared.
    The medical staff, trembling more than when they treated Shen Tingyu, struggled to clean and dress his wounds. Especially the huge gash on his body, which led them to rush him into surgery.
    They couldn't understand how Xu Qingran, despite being so severely injured, remained calm and showed no sign of pain.
    "Is he even human? He can't be a machine, can he?"
    Anyway, two days after the incident ended, the students gradually left Linglong City for their holidays, but he still had to stay in the medical ward for observation.
    What worried the military doctor the most was his soul fluctuation.
    But this time, she was surprised: "Incredible... You fought so fiercely that day, yet the amplitude of your soul fluctuations was not large, staying within the safe data range."
    Xu Qingran, leaning against the pillow, half-sitting on the hospital bed, replied, "Just need to keep it under control."
    He said it as casually as if he were talking about drinking water.
    The military doctor rolled her eyes: "This is the first time I've heard someone say they can control soul fluctuations!"
    "Anyway, you were lucky this time. Don't be reckless when you go home for the holidays!" The doctor, unconvinced by his claim, nagged with concern, "Though it's hard to predict precisely, your shaping day is close. Be extra careful."
    Xu Qingran was quite at ease, but to acknowledge the doctor's sincere concern, he nodded and said, "Alright."
    With the boost from his psychic power, the healing of his physical injuries was much faster than in his past life. Roughly four days later, Xu Qingran was able to get out of bed and move freely, waiting for Xiao Zhang to come and pick him up.
    During his stay in the medical ward, having successfully retrieved his phone and other personal items, he spent his time surfing the internet and watching the drama unfold.
    And it was all about him.
    He watched as Linglong City, Grandis University, and his own name hung in the trending topics for days.
    Surprisingly, the netizens overwhelmingly supported him, speaking up on his behalf.
    Xu Qingran felt somewhat bewildered.
    In his past life, nothing he ever did was recognized. The label of 'villain' clung to him as if a decree of the world, and because of his power, people treated him as the ultimate boss.
    His retaliatory nature and unpredictability had everyone labeling him as the bad guy.
    The base he built was seen by everyone as a secret place schemed to destroy the world.
    So, he learned to ignore, to observe only his own heart, and to do what he needed to do.
    Xiao Zhang soon arrived at Linglong City to take him away.
    Upon seeing him, Xiao Zhang was visibly moved: "Mr. Xu, long time no see! You've had a hard time these days!"
    Mrs. Song, too, had learned of his ordeal from the recent news.
    Mrs. Song had been sending him messages on his phone for a while now, insisting he must have lost weight and promising to cook lavish meals for him when he returned.
    On the journey back, Xu Qingran felt extremely tired and weary. He dozed off and woke intermittently, his mind foggy. After barely finishing the feast prepared by Mrs. Song at Shen Tingyu's home, he collapsed onto his bed once more.
    When he next opened his eyes, night had fallen.
    He got up to take a shower, and while waiting for the automatic hair dryer to do its work, he idly browsed the latest news on his tablet.
    To his surprise, he found himself trending on social media again.
    But this time, it was Shen Tingyu who had propelled him into the spotlight.
    The issue had been dragging on for days, with Grandis University and the Military Academy slow to give a clear response. Then, Shen Tingyu, whose social media activity was even less frequent than that of a miserly tycoon, unexpectedly made a post this afternoon.
    Shen Tingyu: [Smiling] Suddenly remembered, I also have a special invitation quota for Grandis University. @Xu Qingran, I hereby formally extend this invitation to you.
    The post was accompanied by a photo.
    It was a beautifully crafted special invitation from the Military Academy, with Xu Qingran's name handwritten on it, stamped with various official seals, and signed at the bottom by Shen Tingyu himself.
    The comment section exploded.
    [Wow, General Shen updated his social media!]
    [I thought General Shen had forgotten his account password QAQ!]
    [Isn't the focus that he's officially extended a special invitation to Xu Dashao?!]
    [So the rumors about General Shen having a special invitation quota are true! All these years, he's never issued one, and I thought it was just a hoax!]
    Generally, special invitations from Grandis University are exclusive to a few highly influential officials in certain academies and royal family members. Shen Tingyu is the first non-academic high-ranking official and non-royal to possess this privilege.
    This is a unique national privilege granted to him, allowing him to issue up to one special invitation per year.
    The skepticism was because, over the years, Shen Tingyu had never issued a special invitation to any student. He rarely gave interviews and never confirmed it publicly, so the matter was almost forgotten.
    [Wow, is this the powerful uncle protecting his nephew-in-law?]
    [Sob, I'm genuinely envious now. A special invitation never issued before, reserved only for Xu Dashao!]
    [So shipworthy! Love this!]
    Soon after, Xie Nanjun joined in, retweeting Shen Tingyu's post: "Seconded, seconded. Accept this invitation, and Jinyi can compete with Yilong for talent! Since Yilong is overlooking such a treasure, better come to Jinyi quickly!"
    Astonishingly, students from prestigious families who had already gone home for the holidays, like Ji Huaixiu, Ni Xiaoyuan, Feng Wei, and Lin Qianmu, also reshared the post.
    They said nothing, but it was as if they said everything.
    Classmates from the same group also kindly spoke up for Xu Qingran, publicizing his diligent training during the term, proving his talent and hard work. Why should such a student be expelled!
    Seeing the matter escalate to an unavoidable level, even the Empire's Interior Ministry retweeted Shen Tingyu's post, hinting at the situation. In a panic, Grandis University immediately announced on their official account an hour later—rumors are false, Xu Qingran will not be expelled!
    The official account of Yilong Camp also retweeted it, stating that the camp and the Third Prince have always valued Xu Qingran. There was no intention of removing him from the academy, and his status as a special invitee would be maintained.
    After all, if they didn't maintain this special invitee status, not only would the public view it negatively, but they would also lose any chance of extending an olive branch to Xu Qingran.
    That same afternoon, just before Shen Tingyu posted, Lu Wennyen had announced his collaborative research project with Xu Qing'an, focusing on advanced D-type studies. What should have been a trending topic was overshadowed by Shen Tingyu and Xu Qingran, losing its heat.
    Xu Qingran, holding his tablet, scrolled through the social platform for a long time.
    He clicked back and forth between those few people's posts, eventually returning to Shen Tingyu's profile and opening that accompanying picture, remaining silent for a long time.
    Lost in thought, suddenly there was a knock at the door.
    Upon opening it, there stood Shen Tingyu, weary from his journey, still in his immaculate uniform.
    Xu Qingran raised his eyebrows slightly.
    The person outside the door chuckled, handing over the precious invitation letter, "I said I would do it, and I even came personally to invite. What does Student Xu think of this sincerity?"
    Xu Qingran stared at the letter in his hand for a long while before breaking into a smile.
    He reached out to accept it, responding earnestly, "Thank you."
    Shen Tingyu looked down, a faint smile in his eyes, tinged with a sincerity he himself might not have realized.
    He then said, "So, shall we become friends?"
    Xu Qingran paused in his actions.
    He thought, for Shen Tingyu, with his inherent E-type pride, to initiate such an offer, it must have been a well-considered decision.
    His eyes slightly curved, his tone proudly decisive, "Sure."
    ·
    A night passed.
    The special invitation sent by Shen Tingyu lay quietly on the desk.
    It was nearing noon, but Xu Qingran still felt too drowsy to move. It was only when his stomach became unbearably hungry that he forced himself out of bed.
    As soon as he stood up, his head spun violently, and his chest felt oppressively tight.
    At the same time, a slight tremor emanated from the depths of the spiritual pool connected to his soul.
    How to describe it?
    Comparing the soul and body to matter and walls, it closely resembled the sensation of separation between the two.