Chapter 115: Look Forward

“Is that so…” Su Ye lowered his head and pondered.

If everything went well, the next step for him would be the Black Iron Trial. If it was just an ordinary trial, he should be fine. However, he might face great danger if he ended up in the Divine Power Plane.

There were many ways to minimize the risk. For example, he could intimidate the enemy in advance and make those ordinary enemies leave him alone completely. After all, no matter how small the force was, it could still cause a butterfly effect.

Another way would be for him to show his strength in advance so that the academy was willing to pay a higher price to save him if he was in danger.

He could also demonstrate part of his strength but hide other tricks up his sleeve, so as to mislead the enemy who would definitely attack him.

Yet another way would be to earn more magic tools to increase his strength. Besides that, he could also offer the magic tools as sacrifice in exchange for more talents. By doing so, he would double the benefits.

The image of the altar appeared in Su Ye’s mind. No matter how he looked at it, with this altar, he had to frequently take the initiative to attack. After all, he would receive double rewards. If he came across a particularly good Talent Spirit or even a new reward, the benefits he received would be tripled, quadrupled, or even more than ten fold.

It seemed like an opportunity had presented itself in front of him today.

It was not like he wanted to keep a high profile, but the altar had needs that needed to be met too.

After a while, Su Ye asked, “Can I avoid Eugene’s challenge?”

Rolon smiled bitterly and said, “As far as I know, either you lose to Eugene or you win against Eugene. No one can avoid his challenge. To avoid him, someone once ran to Miletus across the Aegean Sea. Eugene actually chased after the person all the way to Miletus to challenge him. That person was also someone not to be trifled with. He then ran to Syracuse in Sicily, traversing across almost all of Greece. However, in the end, the person still couldn’t hide from Eugene and was forced to fight him. I suspect that Eugene wasn’t interested in you at first. After all, you’re only a mage apprentice. But with someone constantly trying to sow discord, I don’t know what will happen.”

Su Ye looked at Lake and said, “Did you hear that? Regardless of whether you or Hort were involved, Eugene would have targeted me anyway. Both of you encountering Eugene was most likely an accident. In other words, anyone who is close to me might be faced with such an accident.”

Lake nodded in comprehension. Hort felt somewhat confused.

“Can’t we just hide in Plato Academy?” Hort suggested.

“Right. We can avoid Eugene as long as we don’t go to any private competition and we don’t leave Plato Academy. However, if we ever walk out of the school gate, will we meet him?” Su Ye replied with another question.

“Yes, we will…” Hort said helplessly.

“If we meet him outside the school, can we still hide from him?” Su Ye asked.

“Yes. We can run away,” Hort answered.

“What makes you think that someone you can’t even land a blow on will run slower than you?” Su Ye asked.

Hort didn’t say a word.

“What happens if, I mean if, Lake is seriously ill at home a few days later and we need to deliver a bottle of magic medicine to him to save his life, but Eugene is waiting outside? If we delay for ten seconds, Lake will die. Then, do you think Lake will die?” Su Ye asked.

Hort was speechless.

Su Ye asked again, “This time, Eugene used the two of you to force me to fight him. Who will he hurt next time? What about in the future? I can’t possibly allow my deskmates, my friends, and the people I care about to be beaten to death one by one before I show myself to clean up the mess.”

Cold sweat covered Lake’s forehead as he suddenly said, “What if he threatened me with my sister and asked me to lure you out…”

Su Ye sighed and patted Lake’s shoulder. Su Ye said, “Don’t always think about avoiding the issue. Think about how to take the initiative to solve it. It is because avoidance will become a habit of ours. When that happens, we will always hide in our comfort zone to lick our wounds when we encounter difficulties. Then, one day, when you meet the thing or person you most want to have in your life, you will habitually run away and retract to your own bubble. When you realize that you have completely lost the chance to get it, it will be too late to regret it then. Finally, you will continue to live in your own bubble and spend your whole life regretting your decision. At that time, even if someone uses all their strength or even their life to break into your little world in order to reach out to you and pull you out…”

Su Ye looked at his deskmates. The warmth in his eyes was enough to melt the cold winter as he slowly finished his sentence –

“…you won’t be able to see their effort because your head is lowered.”

Lake slowly lowered his head and gritted his teeth, trying his best to control his emotions.

Ebert also had his head down.

Rolon turned his head to look out of the window.

Palos quietly stared at her magic book. Her eyes were clouded with confusion.

A self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of Jimmy’s mouth, but it quickly disappeared.

The classroom was silent.

Everyone felt as though they had understood something, but they also felt as though they had grasped nothing.

Hort was trying hard to think too, but his effort was in vain.

Su Ye smiled gently and continued, “Therefore, when we encounter difficulties, we should raise our heads and try to take a step forward. We just need to take a small step. Even if we fail, we must continue to look forward with our heads high, so that we can see the hand reaching out to us, right?”

Hort nodded vigorously.

Su Ye said, “So, I will take a small step forward now. I will take the initiative to challenge Eugene to a duel.”

“I think you should too.” Rolon nodded in agreement.

Su Ye smiled and turned to look at Lake as he said, “See? Rolon said so too.”

“He is also a noble,” Lake retorted snappily, but he did not dare to look at Rolon.

Rolon seemed to have gotten used to Lake’s attitude. He crossed his arms over his chest and couldn’t be bothered with refuting Lake.

A smile appeared on Su Ye’s face. He said, “I happen to be going out for an errand today. I’ll settle this matter first after I leave the school. It’ll be convenient.”

Su Ye said to Lake, “Find someone to send a magic message to Eugene and the others. He’ll have to compensate the two of you 50 Gold Eagles first. Tell Eugene that I’ll never accept his challenge unless he agrees to this. If he agrees, ask him to wait for me outside Plato Academy’s gate after tonight’s self-study session. We’ll have a fair fight. In addition, I, Su Ye, am a top student in Plato Academy. I have secured three consecutive victories in the competition against the nobles and I am the best user of Magic Rope. I am not someone who can be easily challenged by any Tom, Dick, or Harry. Tell Eugene to bring along a bronze level magic weapon. If he wins, he can take it back. If he loses, I’ll keep it.”

Everyone looked at Su Ye blankly. Although they knew he was joking, but… a top student? Did he have some misunderstanding about the term “top student”?

“Are you sure?” Lake asked.

“I will fight this duel for my own sake,” Su Ye said.

Lake didn’t see any reluctance in Su Ye’s eyes.

“Moreover, he shouldn’t have hurt my deskmate!” Su Ye’s voice was very soft, but it was very powerful.

The students looked at Su Ye, touched.

“Okay, I’ll contact him now!” Lake said.

Clang.

The bell rang and everyone returned to their seats.

After the first class ended, as soon as Niedern left the classroom, the male students gathered around the fifth table.

“How is it? Did he agree?”

“I don’t think he dares to agree to it!”

“Eugene is no match for Su Ye.”

Lake said helplessly, “Stop uttering nonsense. Eugene has already promised that he will arrive early and wait outside the school. He will also bring along 50 Gold Eagles and a bronze level magic weapon. He will even wear a restraining wristband so that his divine power is maintained at the level of a warrior apprentice. He will not use the power of a Black Iron Warrior.”

“Su Ye will definitely win!”

Many students cheered.