Chapter 108: Commendation and Rewards (Request Monthly Votes)

Time slowly passed, and the intensity of the beast surge gradually faded, drawing people's attention to other matters.

Seven days after the Spring Festival, nearing the end of February.

Middle schools across the region began reopening one by one.

Tianhai No. 2 Middle School was no exception.

Rongshan Community, Building 4, Unit 301, Lin Qi's home.

"Ding!"

【Your Industrial and Commercial Bank card ending in xxx received 1.5 million Xia Guo yuan on January 22 at 21:00. Balance: 1.5614 million Xia Guo yuan.】

Lin Qi, sitting on the sofa, saw the text message and smiled—this money had finally arrived.

If it didn't come soon, he'd have no money left.

"Xiao Qi, after school resumes, I plan to return to No. 10 Middle School as a martial arts teacher," Lin Zhen suddenly said.

"Xiao Qi, I've discussed it with your father—I'm also going to teach at No. 10 Middle School, so we can look out for each other and earn some income."

"I'll also have free time to resume my martial arts cultivation."

Fang Fang Huiyi added.

"I have no objections—I support your decision!"

Lin Qi nodded; the family's debts were paid off, and his father's blood qi was gradually recovering.

With his original third-rank martial artist strength and skills, he could earn tens of thousands of Xia Guo yuan per month as a martial arts teacher.

His safety was assured, his mother was improving too, and their household was getting better by the day.

…

Late at night

Lin Qi was lying in bed playing with his phone when a message suddenly appeared—it was from Zhang Cheng on WeChat.

【Zhang Cheng: Lin Qi, after tomorrow's opening ceremony, there'll be a commendation ceremony. Leaders from the Martial Arts Education Bureau and the three major martial arts academies will be present to honor you, Li Zhou, and Jiang Tao.】

Lin Qi frowned—he didn't like these kinds of public recognition events.

As he thought this, Zhang Cheng sent another message.

【Zhang Cheng: Everyone who goes on stage will receive a reward of 500,000 Xia Guo yuan.】

【Lin Qi: Fine!】

Lin Qi relaxed his fingers, his frown easing—fine, he'd go up there—for the sake of 500,000 Xia Guo yuan.

On the other end, Zhang Cheng exhaled in relief and smiled.

"This kid—he wouldn't have gone up if there wasn't money involved."

…

January 23, the day Tianhai No. 2 Middle School reopened—clear weather.

On the spacious playground, students from all three grades, both academic and martial arts, stood in class-based formations.

In past years, everyone's faces would have been filled with displeasure.

For students, the opening ceremony was the most boring event.

But today, many looked curiously toward the podium.

"What's going on today?"

"Did I see that right? That's He He Qidong, director of the Martial Arts Education Bureau—I just saw him on short videos a few days ago!" someone wondered.

"No way—that's Deputy Director Yue Feng from Chiqiong Martial Arts Academy! I've seen his footage killing the Ghost Fang Giant Shark—so cool!" someone exclaimed.

"Not just him—there's also the deputy director from Zhong Ming and Heiyao Martial Arts Academies—these are big figures!" others murmured, both puzzled and excited.

"Could it be true what people say? That one of our senior students killed dozens of beasts during the beast surge?" someone ventured.

"Is that really true? Did someone from our school do that?" everyone buzzed.

The playground erupted in restless excitement—countless hearts felt like they were being scratched by cats.

All because the podium had been upgraded with luxurious chairs, and several heavyweight figures now sat upon it.

The grade director, a middle-aged, overweight man wearing glasses, stood up, a small black microphone clipped to his lip.

"On this bright day, Tianhai No. 2 Middle School officially welcomes the start of the new term."

"We…"

He began his tedious speech again, but the students' attention was fixed on the leaders.

After about ten minutes of opening remarks.

Principal Jiang Jiang Zhiguang stepped forward and spoke, his voice booming:

"I won't speak further—the opening ceremony is over. Now, let's proceed with the commendation ceremony!"

Everyone stared at him curiously.

"Eight days ago, a small beast surge erupted at Wanda Plaza in our city. Countless beasts surged forth, launching brutal attacks on innocent civilians."

"Against the weak, they showed no hesitation—slaughtering and devouring without mercy!"

"The plaza was filled mostly with ordinary people—children, the elderly, women… They could only wait helplessly for death."

Jiang Jiang Zhiguang spoke with solemn expression; the students' faces grew grave.

"In the face of this beast rampage, three of our students stepped forward."

"At great personal risk, they killed dozens of beasts and saved dozens of civilians!!" "Who are they??"

"They are our senior students from the Elite Martial Arts Class: Lin Qi, Li Zhou, and Jiang Tao."

"After deliberation by the Tianhai City Martial Arts Education Bureau and the three major martial arts academies, we have decided to award them the title of Outstanding Young Wu Zhe and a reward of 500,000 Xia Guo yuan, to encourage their courage."

"Let us now invite these three students to the stage!"

"Applause!" The podium attendees clapped first.

Then came a thunderous wave of clapping.

In the senior grade's elite class section.

"Lin Qi, Li Zhou, Jiang Tao—go!" Zhang Cheng grinned.

Lin Qi glanced around, then stepped forward from the crowd, meeting the admiration of everyone's eyes.

He walked at the front; the three ascended the podium.

!

The other students erupted in excitement.

"I never thought Lin Qi would be this awesome," Li Li Shaodong from the former Class 3 remarked.

He had once ranked higher than Lin Qi, but now Lin Qi was second in the entire grade and being honored school-wide, while he himself had made little progress.

Many others felt the same.

Lower-grade students were also in an uproar.

"No way—it's really our seniors who fought in the beast surge? And they're in the top three of their grade? So cool!"

"I heard Lin Qi is the most inspiring and fierce—gotta brag to my friends," someone said, eyes gleaming with admiration.

"No, Lin Qi is the most handsome," a girl gushed.

"Yeah, even as a guy, I think Lin Qi's gorgeous—how can someone be this good-looking?" a boy sighed.

Amid thunderous applause, Lin Qi and the other two reached the podium.

Several leaders stood up; first was He He Qidong, extending his hand to Lin Qi.

"Student Lin Qi, you're outstanding—keep pushing forward!"

"Thank you!"

Lin Qi reached out and shook his hand.

He He Qidong looked at Lin Qi with awe—who could have imagined that a once-average student, rejected even once for a Third-Class Talent Loan,

would become one of Tianhai City's most outstanding talents?

Next came Yue Feng, who smiled and patted Lin Qi's shoulder.

"Student Lin Qi, I'm Wang Wang Zhenhai from Zhong Ming Martial Arts Academy—feel free to contact me anytime if you want to join," Wang Zhen greeted with a smile.

Lin Qi only smiled in return, saying nothing.

All the martial arts academy leaders had extended their goodwill.

Finally, Jiang Tao stepped aside, deliberately leaving a central spot empty; Li Zhou, seeing this, didn't move.

Lin Qi, seeing this, didn't retreat—he stepped directly into the center position.

The elite class students stared, puzzled.

"Strange—Li Zhou is number one in the grade—why is Lin Qi standing center?" someone wondered.

"No idea!" Others looked equally confused.

Yu Jing, watching Lin Qi surrounded by admiration, his face darkened, turning ashen.

Something within him surged wildly.

Jealousy tore him apart.

"Laugh all you want—soon, number one in the grade will be mine," Yu Jing seethed inwardly.

…

At this moment, Lin Qi received from Principal Jiang Jiang Zhiguang's smiling hands a medal embedded with gold—a solid gold emblem radiating golden light.

Staff members took a group photo in front.

Lin Qi smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile.

Happy for the 500,000 Xia Guo yuan reward.

At the same time, it signifies the official end of the commendation ceremony!

All students and leaders dispersed individually!

Lin Qi and the other two, preparing to leave, were taken by the principal to the front of his office.

"I'm taking you to meet someone," Jiang Jiang Zhiguang said at the door.

"Who?" Jiang Tao asked.

"Your senior, last year's Top Graduate," Jiang Jiang Zhiguang explained.

All three felt a surge of curiosity.

……

(End of Chapter)