Chapter 97: Sorry, I’m Not Capable Enough

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Sorry, I’m Not Capable Enough

Leaving guests standing at the door wasn’t proper, so as soon as Li Heng spoke and confirmed the visitors’ identities, Li Guobin immediately invited the two teachers into their home to have a seat.

"I’m so sorry, please excuse the mess! Oh, I have some homemade floral tea and Maojian. Please, try them and let me know what you think."

The family of three had just finished dinner, and they hadn’t had time to clear the dishes. With guests now visiting, Zhang Yu Yao very naturally cleared away the leftover food and empty bowls.

She then skillfully played the part of a host. Without waiting for the two teachers to say anything, she quickly ducked into the kitchen and emerged a moment later with two half-full cups of tea.

The two teachers, both in military uniform, quickly expressed their thanks.

With his parents and the teachers present, Li Heng knew better than to speak out of turn. He stood straight, waiting for the two teachers from the Desert Military Academy to state the purpose of their visit.

Li Guobin was also very curious about their visit, but even more than that, he was preoccupied with what Teacher Su had just said.

"Teacher Su... excuse me, but you just mentioned something about an ’Ice Luan Card’ and ’4,000 points.’ What exactly does that mean? Would you mind explaining?"

Hearing Li Guobin’s question, Teacher Zeng and Teacher Su glanced at each other. Teacher Su’s gaze lingered on Li Heng for a second or two before she answered.

"If neither of you knows about it, then it’s probably not appropriate for me to be the one to explain. Why don’t you ask Student Li Heng?"

!!

’You’ve got to be kidding me!’

’I should have just told them!’

Li Heng’s heart sank. He had just told his parents a little white lie.

And now someone had shown up at his door to call him out on it!

’How am I supposed to deal with this?’

But Li Heng didn’t get the questioning look or words he expected from his father. Instead, he heard Li Guobin ask a question of his own.

"This little rascal must be hiding something from his mother and me. I apologize for the trouble, teachers. But... I was wondering why you came here today..."

After what Teacher Su said, Li Guobin thought back to her earlier words and had a faint inkling of what was going on. For now, he suppressed his curiosity.

He decided to first clarify the purpose of their visit.

Li Guobin posed his question, but this time, Teacher Su didn’t reply. Instead, Teacher Zeng, who was beside her, gave a formal salute and spoke with great solemnity.

"Student Li Heng, you have demonstrated outstanding courage and boldness. Furthermore, you achieved an exceptionally outstanding score on this Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam. Therefore, the northwestern Desert Military Academy wishes to offer you special enrollment to study at our school! During your time with us, you will be granted the rank of Warrant Officer. Upon graduation and passing your assessment, you will be directly promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant!"

’A military academy under the Soul Energy University system?’

’A military rank?!’

The words from Teacher Zeng of the admissions office left Li Guobin completely stunned. His face was a mask of astonishment, and he was at a total loss for words.

Zhang Yu Yao was just as dumbfounded. ’Our son has outstanding courage? How come I never knew?’

’And... how would these two teachers know that?’

But these were minor details. The moment Teacher Zeng stated their purpose, the couple understood everything.

’Our son’s score on the Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam must have been incredible!’

A Soul Energy Military Academy had come directly to their house to recruit him!

Although the couple had never taken the Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam, they had taken the regular one. They knew what happened with students who had exceptional scores.

All the major universities would fight to get them!

A few years ago, there were even news reports on TV about several top-tier universities getting into physical fights over students.

They never imagined that something you only heard about happening to "other people’s kids" would one day happen to their own family.

And for the Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam, no less!

Li Guobin and Zhang Yu Yao were overjoyed. To be noticed by a Soul Energy Military Academy meant their son had a bright future ahead of him. For the two of them, this was absolutely fantastic news.

If their guests weren’t present, the couple would have immediately started discussing how to celebrate.

But with guests in front of them, and an "olive branch" having been extended, it was obviously not the time to get lost in their own happiness.

"Hengzi! The teachers are asking you a question!"

After forcibly suppressing his joy, Li Guobin began to consider what was best for Li Heng. But after only a few seconds of thought, he realized he was completely in the dark when it came to these Soul Energy universities. You could say he was utterly clueless.

So, after a slight pause, he very naturally passed the "hot potato" to Li Heng.

!

Li Heng hadn’t expected his father to turn the spotlight on him at a moment like this. He was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered.

In truth, Li Heng had already given this some thought back in the score assessment room, when he first heard Teacher Su mention the Desert Military Academy.

’Entering an Alliance Military Academy means becoming an Alliance Soldier.’

Proper, disciplined Alliance Soldiers were respected no matter the era, and Li Heng had always admired them.

But the realistic problem was that soldiers often faced difficulties and choices far more dangerous than those in other professions.

And that was without even mentioning the Mystic Realms—realms filled with all sorts of unknowns. In this world, ninety percent of the Alliance Soldiers were organized into various teams centered around these "Mystic Realms."

The moment he thought about potentially having to go to unknown Mystic Realms without Teleportation Talismans, Li Heng’s self-awareness became crystal clear. He had even made up his mind back in the score assessment room.

’I, Li Heng, am not qualified to be an Alliance Soldier!’

’I’ll never be worthy!’

"Teacher Zeng, Teacher Su! I’m honored by your generous offer! But I, Student Li Heng, feel that I am lacking in all aspects, including strength and courage, and am not fit to study at the Desert Military Academy. Besides, I’d like to discuss my Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam choices more with my parents. So... thank you again for your kind offer!"

"No, no, no! Student Li Heng! You shouldn’t sell yourself short. The fact that you turned in the Ice Luan Card is more than enough to prove your courage and strength. If you aren’t qualified to study with us, then none of the candidates from this year’s Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam are worthy of applying to the Desert Military Academy!"

Teacher Su grew anxious, thinking Li Heng was suffering from a bit of low self-esteem, so she immediately tried to reassure him.

Meanwhile, Teacher Zeng had originally thought this recruitment visit would be a sure thing. After all, the Desert Military Academy ranked in the top three among all Soul Energy Military Academies.

A top-three military academy, personally visiting a candidate’s home to recruit them and even promising a military rank... Teacher Zeng simply couldn’t fathom why this Student Li Heng would refuse. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.

"Considering Student Li Heng’s score on this year’s Mystic Realm College Entrance Exam and other factors, the admissions office has discussed the matter and jointly decided that during Student Li Heng’s enrollment at our academy, all tuition fees will be waived, he will receive the highest possible annual scholarship, and during his freshman year, he will be granted... three opportunities per month to explore a stable Mystic Realm!"

As soon as Teacher Zeng finished speaking, Teacher Su was shocked. From the moment she had rushed out of the classroom and called the school, telling them she’d found a genius and to send someone over immediately...

...the admissions office had quickly found the nearest available teacher to come over. The whole process had been incredibly fast.

’When did the admissions office have time to ’discuss’ anything?’

’A ’joint decision’?’

’I’ll bet you just came up with that right now, didn’t you?’

The other conditions were one thing, but that final offer of "opportunities to explore a stable Mystic Realm" was the main reason for Teacher Su’s astonishment.

’Li Heng is a genius, that’s true, but three opportunities a month to explore a stable Mystic Realm... isn’t that a bit...?’

After all, a typical military academy freshman usually only gets one chance to explore a stable Mystic Realm every two months.

’Aren’t these terms a little...?’

"Whatever terms the Desert Military Academy is offering, we at Canghai University will match them, and we’ll throw in a private, high-grade dormitory room on top of that!"

Just as Teacher Su was thinking that Teacher Zeng’s offer might have been a bit inappropriate, a distinctly androgynous voice suddenly called out from the doorway.